World Animal Protection and partners find and remove life-threatening illegal gillnets in Vaquita habitat

Scientists with Vaquita CPR returned the first captured vaquita into Mexico’s

Gulf of California in mid-October. photo: Mexican Secretariat/OENR

With approximately 23 vaquita porpoises left on earth, team uses novel sonar scanning technology to find illegal nets in Mexico's Gulf of California
 
(PRNEWS/USNEWS) NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2017 - World Animal Protection, the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA), and Monterey Bay Diving joined forces with local fishermen in San Felipe, Mexico earlier this month to locate illegal gillnets in critical vaquita porpoise habitat. The vaquita porpoise is the world's most critically endangered marine mammal with just an estimated 23 individual vaquitas remaining in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Illegal fishing activity and the resulting abandoned gillnets, also known as ghost nets, are the single biggest cause of the vaquita's near eradication.

Judge’s ruling on CNN’s Jim Acosta’s White House press credentials a win for press freedom

Chief Whitehouse corrrespondent Jim Acosta granted the right to regain his press

credentials by the court November 16, 2018. photo: manuel balce ceneta/AP

(PEN) NEW YORK, November 16, 2018 - In response to a federal judge’s ruling on CNN’s request for a court order that would temporarily restore CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s access to the White House, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel released the following statement:

“As the first organization to file suit challenging the president’s First Amendment violations, PEN America applauds today’s court decision vindicating the First Amendment, temporarily reinstating CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s press pass and repudiating the government’s claim that the president’s right to an orderly press conference trumps the American people’s right to a free press.

Drilling overwhelms agency protecting America's lands

Violations, from oil spills to haphazard land restoration, are becoming more common in this hotbed of oil and gas activity, according to ranchers and conservation groups. photo: CFPIO

The Bureau of Land Management is making it easier to produce oil and gas on federal acreage. In southeastern New Mexico, it can't even keep up with what's already happening

by Rachel Leven

(CFPI) CARLSBAD, N.M., November 15, 2015 -Wayne Smith was hardened to a certain level of chaos here, on land the American public owns. But even he was incredulous as he surveyed an area he leases for grazing, now cleared of grass and cluttered with above-ground pipelines, a drill pad for multiple wells and other oil and gas infrastructure.

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Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department reminds residents of the Topanga area to evacuate

Aprox. 200 deputies have deployed in the affected areas to ensure and assist with these evacuation efforts. photo: Los Angeles FDPIO

 
(BMLTV) November 12, 2018 - With approximately 75,000 homes impacted in the Woolsey Fire area, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department understands how stressful this is for residents, as we share in your concerns for the safety your pets and property.

Great Clips honors Veterans across the U.S. with free Haircuts on Veterans Day - celebrates $10 million worth of services donated since 2013

Great Clips salons will open their doors on November 11 to welcome Veterans for complimentary haircuts as a way to show respect and appreciation for their service.
photo: Great Clips©  

Veterans Day 2018 marks 5th year honoring Veterans

(BUSINEWIRE) Minn., November 11, 2020 - Great Clips, Inc., the world’s largest salon brand, once again celebrates Veterans Day by thanking those who have served in our military with a free haircut for Veterans and active duty military at any Great Clips salon across the United States.

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on the agency's continued efforts to address growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use

Unfortunately, the rapid growth in the popularity of e-cigarettes among youth to epidemic levels necessitates that we explore all options for how to address this public health concern
photo: healthline©

(PRNEWS) SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 9, 2018 - Over the past several months, we've continued to voice our concerns about the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use. Our public statements have expectedly prompted responses from industry and public health stakeholders on ways they and the FDA can further address these concerning trends.

 But we've also been inundated by a number of people asking for help in their fight against nicotine addiction in children and young adults. We've heard from parents worried about their child's use of e-cigarettes, and asking for help for their child who they believe is already addicted to nicotine. Teens have also reached out following our public education campaign launch wanting information about how to quit their own use of e-cigarettes or how to get help for their friends.

Lowe's to close underperforming stores

Pictured here is Lowe's in a very vibrant Chesapeake Virginia community. This retail outlet is literally across the street from its competitor Home Depot.

photo: abhi ahmadaeen/BMLTV©
 
Company will wind down 20 U.S. stores and 31 locations in Canada

 (PRNEWS) MOORESVILLE, N.C., Nov. 5, 2018 - Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today announced the wind-down of certain underperforming store locations as part of its ongoing strategic reassessment.

To focus on its most profitable stores and improve the overall health of its store portfolio, the company will:

• Close 20 U.S. stores.

Committee to Protect Journalist 2018 Global Impunity Index spotlights countries where journalists are slain and their killers go free

photo: Committee to Protect Journalist

(CPJ) November 3, 2018 - Impunity is entrenched in 14 nations, according to CPJ's 2018 Global Impunity Index, which ranks states with the worst records of prosecuting the killers of journalists.

Somalia tops the list for the fourth year in a row and two countries rejoin the list of offenders, including Afghanistan where a suicide attacker targeted a group of journalists in Kabul, killing nine. Colombia also reappeared on the ranks after a breakaway faction of a guerrilla group with alleged ties to drug trafficking kidnapped an Ecuadoran news crew near the border and murdered them in Colombian territory. Both nations had fallen off the index in recent years as violent conflict receded.

LASD make human trafficking arrest in San Gabriel Valley

Los Angeles County, 9600 Block Garvey Avenue, South El Monte.
photo: Google Maps

(BMLTV) LOS ANGELES, November 1, 2018 - Back in July of 2018, Detectives from the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Taskforce began an investigation into allegations that two San Gabriel Valley massage businesses and a single residence, were operating as illicit prostitution brothels.

Burundi media regulator suspends BBC and VOA, warns other broadcasters

Photo: Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza speaks during the launch ceremony on May 2, 2018, for the a constitutional referendum scheduled for May 17 that would allow him to remain in power for another 16 years. Burundian authorities today suspended the licensing for BBC and VOA, according to reports. (AFP/STR)

 
(NAIROBI) May 7, 2018 - Authorities in Burundi should immediately lift a six-month licensing suspension imposed on radio broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Voice of America (VOA), the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Burundi's National Communication Council (CNC), the media industry regulator, on May 4 accused the two stations of breaching the country's media laws and professional ethics and ordered the stations' licensing suspended, according to a statement from the regulator. A government agency that regulates telecommunication subsequently turned off their signals, according to media reports
.

Things that only happen at International Latino Theater Festivals

photo: Los Angeles Theatre Center/LATC

 by: Luis Alfaro

(BMLTV) LOS ANGELES, November 29, 2017 - Sometimes you go to an event with the sincerest of goals; to get there; have a good time; possibly learn something; if its exceptional, walk out with the wonder of what theatre can do.

But never to fall in love.

Have I become so jaded that I imagine that love just isn’t on the agenda these days? And by love, I don’t mean a pheromone induced affair, but that amazing thing that is so hard to coordinate; the alchemic moment when all the elements come together and virtuosity soars in deep display.

Journalists honored for courageous reporting

Awardees Pravit Rojanaphruk, Patricia Mayorga, Afrah Nasser with Joel Simon and Christiane Amanpour. photo: CPJ/barbara nitke 

International Press Freedom Awards go to imprisoned Cameroonian journalist, Mexican correspondent, Thai reporter, and Yemeni blogger

(BMLTV) New York, November 20, 2017 - Journalists from Cameroon, Mexico, Thailand, and Yemen were honored November 15^th  at the Committee to Protect Journalists' 27th annual International Press Freedom Awards for courageous work amid risks such as imprisonment, threats, and exile. 

 

The families of two recently murdered former International Press Freedom Awardees -- Pavel Sheremet of Ukraine, and Javier Valdez Cárdenas of Mexico -- also attended the event. The crowd of nearly 1,000 stood to honor the two journalists and their loved ones following a video tribute to their work and to CPJ’s efforts to combat impunity.

AAA and Keolis launch nation's first public self-driving shuttle in downtown Las Vegas

The AAA free self-driving shuttle seen in downtown Las Vagas.
photo: PRN

The AAA free self-driving shuttle, operated by Keolis, is the largest self-driving pilot project in the United States to operate in live traffic; AAA will study consumer responses to advance technology that could dramatically reduce traffic fatalities

(PRNEWS) LAS VEGAS, Nov. 8, 2017 - AAA, in partnership with Keolis, just brought the future of transportation to America and now the century-old auto club wants to hear from you.

AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah (AAA) is sponsoring the nation's first self-driving shuttle pilot project geared specifically for the public. Over the course of a year, the self-driving shuttle aims to provide a quarter-million residents and visitors of Las Vegas with first-hand experience using autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, exposing most riders to the technology for the first time. This pilot builds on Keolis' limited shuttle launch in downtown Las Vegas in early 2017; today's launch will be the first self-driving vehicle to be fully integrated with a city's traffic infrastructure.

Gunmen, suicide bombers attack Kabul TV station

Security personnel evacuate employees of the Shamshad TV building after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. photo massoud hossaini/AP
 
(BMLTV) NEW YORK, November 7, 2017 The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the attack on a television station today in Kabul, Afghanistan. Gunmen and suicide bombers this morning attacked Shamshad TV, a leading Pashto-language station, killing one security guard and injuring at least 20 people including television staffers, Shamshad TV’s CEO and broadcast director, Nasim Pakhtoon, told CPJ.

Norfolk gains title as America’s favorite place in 2017 by Travel & Leisure

The City of Norfolk skyline viewed from the Hague waterway in Ghent Historical Landmark community. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

Mermaid city leaps from #4 to top spot in annual poll

(BMLTV) NORFOLK VA, November 2, 2017 - Travel & Leisure readers love the mermaid city! Norfolk claimed the #1 spot in the annual America’s Favorite Place poll for 2017 beating out cities such as Portland, Scottsdale and Nashville.

The Environmental Justice Health Alliance commends Senator Cory Booker's new bill to address environmental injustices

  
Senator Cory Booker/ photo: U.S. Senate Public Affairs

(PRN-USN) NEWARK, N.J., October 31 , 2017 - Senator Cory Booker was joined by Michele Roberts, National Co-Coordinator of the Environmental Justice Health Alliance (EJHA), to introduce new legislation seeking to address some environmental injustices communities across the nation face.  'Environmental justice communities', often composed predominantly of people of color and the poor, suffer disproportionate levels of environmental pollution and its resulting health impacts.

It’s still April and this month is recognized as “Child Abuse Prevention Month”

On April 03, 2017, Norfolk’s Mayor Kenneth Alexander joined child advocates and Department of Human Services staff for the ceremonial planting of 100 blue and silver pinwheels in front of Norfolk City Hall. photo: City of Norfolk

(BMLTV) NORFOLK VA, April 24, 2017 - As good citizens in our communities locally, nationally and globally, we should always keep a watchful eye out for child neglect and abuse at every turn in our lives.

Child maltreatment fatalities and near fatalities have consistently drawn the attention of state lawmakers.

Former L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca found guilty of orchestrating scheme to obstruct federal investigation into jails

Lee Baca appears with his attorneys outside the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles after a mistrial was declared in his obstruction of justice trial on Dec. 22, 2016. photo: KTLA©

LOS ANGELES, March 18, 2017 - Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was found guilty today of leading a conspiracy to obstruct justice by overseeing a scheme designed to impede a federal investigation into corruption and civil rights abuses at county jail facilities. Baca was also convicted of lying to federal investigators when he denied knowledge of key aspects of the obstruction plot.

The U.S. Arab Chamber supports Fifth Annual Arab American Day with the focus on the role of Arab women

H.E. Salah Sarhan, Arab League Ambassador to the United States.
photo: NUSACC©
 
300 business leaders and Diplomats attend event that celebrates Americans of Arab descent

(BMLTV) December 18, 2016, WASHINGTON , D.C. - For the fifth year in a row, the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) supported Arab American Day, held under the auspices of the League of Arab States and the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Washington, DC.

Michael Goldsmith begins his new job as Deputy City Manager

Deputy City Manager Michael Goldsmith, Norfolk VA.
photo: abhi ahmadaeen/BMLTV©

(BMLTV) NORFOLK, VA - This past November City Manager Marcus Jones announced that Police Chief Michael Goldsmith had been promoted to the role of Deputy City Manager. Effective December 1, 2016, Chief Goldsmith will oversee the departments of Police, Fire, Emergency Operations and Neighborhood Development.