Imperial Valley Press
Imperial County moves to seat data center panel while weighing moratorium extension
EL CENTRO — Facing an unprecedented wave of technological development, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors moved forward Tuesday with plans to shape the region’s digital future, advancing a diverse new advisory panel even as officials weigh a...
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Calexico native Alejandra Najera pens children’s book
CALEXICO — Calexico native and newly published author Alejandra Najera gave a reading and book talk introducing her children’s book, Sophie and Our Friends, at the Camarena Library this past Monday, July 13. She is a proud Calexico High School Bulldog...
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Ammunition explosions and 115-degree heat force tactical retreat as fire crews battle fourth-alarm blaze in Ocotillo
OCOTILLO — Under the oppressive weight of 115-degree desert heat and howling winds, local firefighters faced a dual threat of exploding ammunition and fast-moving flames during a massive fourth-alarm structure fire here Thursday afternoon. The...
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Readers choose the best of the Valley
IMPERIAL VALLEY - The Readers’ Choice Awards recently awarded several top business and organization certificates for excellence in service and products here in the Imperial Valley, decided by readers themselves. “The Imperial Valley Press Readers’...
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George’s Pizza is still the best in the Valley
HOLTVILLE – The allure and the mystique of the hometown pizzeria is still going strong after 30 years, as George’s Pizza tops the Reader’s Choice Favorites once again for the past 11 years in a row, achieving an almost cult status in the...
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Supervisors boost community funding, awarding over $17K to nonprofits and cooling centers
EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved the utilization of $17,850 from the Community Benefit Fund on Tuesday, July 7, exceeding the amounts requested by various community nonprofits and programs. The four big-ticket items...
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Valley local attends FIFA World Cup
IMPERIAL VALLEY — For Imperial Valley native Santiago Palacios, soccer was always a part of life and a sport that brought families and friends together, creating community and memories that would last a lifetime. He recently had the opportunity to...
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Holtville celebrates America’s 250th birthday with small town charm
HOLTVILLE — The city of Holtville celebrated the 4th of July early and in style this year, with an afternoon of celebration that included the unveiling of a time capsule and family-friendly festivities all at Holt Park this past Friday, July 3. The...
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Calexico celebrates nation’s 250th anniversary
CALEXICO — The city of Calexico celebrated the nation’s 250th anniversary with a small recognition ceremony during the intermission of its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, July 1. The celebration was held in the lobby of the Calexico City...
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West Shores Chamber disappears without a trace
SALTON CITY Grassroots community organizers in the Salton City area have made a public inquiry into the disbursement of funds that non-profit organizations were invited to apply for upon the sale of the old West Shores Chamber of Commerce...
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Calexico Volunteer Alliance Group is making a di erence, one volunteer at a time
CALEXICO — The Calexico Volunteer Alliance Group comprises individuals who dedicate countless hours to helping others, organizing community events, supporting local causes, and stepping up whenever the city needs volunteers. They do this quietly,...
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Poise Studio o ers new fitness options for the valley
IMPERIAL - Fitness enthusiasts now have a new boutique studio in the Imperial Valley, with Poise Studio having officially opened its doors at their grand opening celebration this past Friday, June 26. Poise Studio offers yoga, pilates, and even pole...
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Supervisors approve letter supporting SB 420 to tighten detention facility tax rules
EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved a letter of support for Senate Bill (SB) 420 on Tuesday, June 23, as requested by Chairwoman Peggy Price regarding property tax welfare exemptions for detention facilities. Existing law...
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Calexico gets tough on public safety
CALEXICO – The city of Calexico recently held a series of informational summer meetings and public forums designed to inform residents about public safety concerns shared by both the city’s residents and public officials. The first public forum, held...
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Supervisors approve $797.3 million budget
EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved the recommended budget for the 20262027 fiscal year on Tuesday, June 23, and it will move forward with formal budget hearings beginning on August 18 before the official adoption of the...
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Senator Steve Padilla visits valley, seeks support for legislation
EL CENTRO — State Senator Steve Padilla held an informational town hall meeting on Thursday, June 18, at the El Centro Community Center to discuss his upcoming legislative bills, including a couple of them concerning data centers and broader...
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Brawley Lions Center pool reopens to the public
BRAWLEY — The Lions Center held its grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the debut of its renovated pool after a three-year process on Saturday, June 20. “Welcome to the reopening of the Lion’s Center Pool! After three years, we are excited...
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Calexico doubles down on community clean-up efforts; invites the public to park cleanup
CALEXICO — Community clean-up efforts in the city of Calexico have intensified among both business owners and residents, who say they are tired of a decades-long cleanliness problem that continues to make the city an eyesore. Calexico residents say...
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Calipatria breaks ground on new community park
Staff Writer CALIPATRIA—The official groundbreaking ceremony for Calipatria’s new Community Center and Park took place this past Tuesday, June 16, and featured a unifying celebration to which the entire community was invited. As a small city with a...
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IVC ag students showcase research at UC Desert Research Center
HOLTVILLE — Twelve Imperial Valley College agriculture students recently presented the results of hands-on field research conducted through a partnership between Imperial Valley College and the University of California Desert Research and Extension...
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IVC graduates achieve milestone moment
IMPERIAL — Imperial Valley College celebrated its 2026 commencement ceremony this past Saturday, June 13, inside the college’s De Paoli Sports Complex, marking a major milestone in the lives of the graduation class of students and their families. This...
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Remembering the legacy of Emma Jones
EL CENTRO - Longtime educator Emma Jones recently passed away on June 9, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, care, and dedication in a career that spanned over five decades with the Central Union High School District and amongst the many students and...
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FIFA World Cup kicks off locally
EL CENTRO–The Mexican Consulate of Imperial Valley, along with several partner agencies, gathered at the Imperial Valley Mall on Thursday, June 11, kicking off the FIFA World Soccer Cup event this year. An excited crowd gathered at the food court to...
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Republican Steve Hilton to face Becerra in November
Republican Steve Hilton will advance to the November general election in the race for California governor, setting up a longshot contest against Democrat Xavier Becerra in which he’s promised to slash spending and regulations if elected. Hilton, a...
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Adaptive Catechism Program culminates year
CALEXICO—The Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Parish successfully wrapped up its first-ever adaptive catechism program this year with two recent celebrations for the entire Imperial Valley Catholic community. The parish offered the first holy communion...
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Calexico Bulldogs step into the future
CALEXICO — Calexico High School celebrated 580 graduates for its 2026 graduating class at Ward Field this past Thursday evening, June 4, amongst a large crowd of excited parents and family members who came to support their graduates as they crossed the...
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Central Union High School District celebrates graduates
EL CENTRO—The Central Union High School District wrapped up its school year with pomp and circumstance as well as a record number of graduates who walked across the stage to receive their diplomas this year, totaling almost 1,000 within the...
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Imperial Valley stays course as local primary turnout plummets to record lows
EL CENTRO—In a primary election marked by deeply subdued voter turnout, Imperial County voters stuck closely to familiar leadership in federal and state races while setting up several high-stakes local runoffs for the November general...
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Soroptimist Club hosts Lanterns of Hope event
EL CENTRO — The Soroptimist Club of Imperial Valley held a special event called “Lanterns of Hope” at the Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse this past Sunday, May 31, with the intention of inspiring local women and girls to dream bigger and pursue their...
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Raising Hope Collective holds soft opening
EL CENTRO — The Raising Hope Collective opened its doors on Monday, June 1, ushering in fresh possibilities and new vendors in their artistic and entrepreneurial collective indoor space in downtown El Centro. New owner Dalila Singh-Stevenson decided...
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Man arrested on drug and resisting violations
A man was taken into custody following an encounter with local law enforcement, according to public booking logs from the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office. Daniel Diaz Viloria, 52, was arrested by the El Centro Police Department. Authorities pulled...
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Imperial Regional Detention Facility earns perfect score in National Health Care Audit
CALEXICO — The Imperial Regional Detention Facility has achieved a perfect score during a recent audit by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), clearing the path for official accreditation. The comprehensive health care audit,...
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Baja California engineering students headed to Global Underwater Robotics Championship in Canada
Facing freezing waters, heavy waves, and strong currents, a team of engineering students from Baja California is preparing to test their mettle on the global stage. The SeaFox Inventive team, hailing from the CETYS University Campus Mexicali School of...
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Weapons arrest executed
Brawley police officers arrested a self-employed resident for carrying a loaded weapon, according to the sheriff’s department log. Andy Jaimes Sanchez Ojeda, 22, was taken into custody along West Main Street. Sanchez Ojeda faces a felony allegation of...
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Calexico chicken restaurant wins Regional SBA Rural Business of the Year Award
CALEXICO – Twelve years ago, Beatriz and Daniel Serrano opened a small restaurant with plenty of ambition but absolutely zero industry experience. There were grueling days, steep learning curves, and moments when they seriously considered throwing in...
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A frantic 2 hours as police struggled to assess threat before San Diego shooters opened fire
SAN DIEGO — The two hours before Monday’s deadly attack at the San Diego Islamic Center were marked by a series of frantic calls by the mother of one of the attackers as short-staffed police struggled to assess the seriousness of the threat and...
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Older AC and fridge chemicals amp up climate change. Trump just rolled back limits on them
LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that grocery stories and air conditioning companies will be allowed to keep using high-polluting refrigerants for longer than they would have under a law he signed during his first...
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Agricultural worker jailed on misdemeanor warrant
An agricultural worker was arrested following an incident on G Street, authorities said. Pedro Alexis Sandoval Alvarado, 31, was taken into custody by Brawley Police Department officers on G Street. Sandoval Alvarado was booked into the county jail at...
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HAPPY PHOTOGRAPHY MONTH
May is national photography month. Help celebrate by sharing your favorite photograph with the community
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Unemployed man arrested for trespassing
A 22-year-old man was taken into custody after allegedly refusing to leave a property. Jesus Romero was arrested on Main Street by officers with the Brawley Police Department. According to booking records, Romero was arrested for trespassing and...
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Calexico detention facility hosts second annual mental health fair
CALEXICO — In a continued effort to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental wellness, the Imperial Regional Detention Facility (IRDF) hosted its second annual mental health fair this week, bringing together local non-profits, healthcare providers, and...
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Brawley Wildcat Band performs at Disneyland
BRAWLEY – The Brawley Union High School band recently completed a performance at Disneyland this past weekend, creating lasting memories for 56 student band members, their band teacher, and family members. Disneyland’s High School Band Invitational is...
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County approves new veterinarian recruitment and retention program
EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved a Public Benefit Program grant totaling $375,000 for a veterinarian recruitment and retention program on Tuesday, May 12, at their regularly scheduled meeting. The approval of this grant...
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In California governor race, single-payer is a litmus test. There’s still no way to pay for it
When Gavin Newsom ran for California governor in 2018, his support for a state-run single-payer healthcare system was considered a risky move and earned him hefty labor endorsements. Today, leading Democrats in the wide-open race to succeed Newsom...
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Man faces string of allegations including carjacking and kidnapping
A construction worker is facing several felony allegations following a highstakes incident at the Border Patrol building, sheriff’s records indicate. Enrique Ventura Moreno, 45, was arrested by El Centro Police. Moreno faces a litany of violations,...
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Lawmaker pushes for alcohol bans at children’s parties following toddler’s death
Following the tragic death of a 3-year-old boy that has shaken the state of Baja California, a local lawmaker is calling for a crackdown on alcohol consumption at children’s events and family celebrations. State Assemblyman Juan Manuel Molina García...
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READERS’ PHOTOS
Send photos, caption and contact information to [email protected]
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Narcotics arrest made
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 72-year-old Richard Martin Sewell near the intersection of Fifth Street and Imperial Avenue. Sewell was booked at 8:19 a.m. on May 5 on suspicion of possession of a narcotic controlled substance, the sheriff’s blotter...
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Self-employed man faces corporal injury violation
El Centro Police arrested 31-year-old Melvin Franklin following an incident on West Brighton Avenue. Franklin was booked into custody at 10:48 p.m. on May 3 and booked on a felony charge of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. He is...
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From the edge of the New River to a new beginning: One man’s fight for redemption
On the dusty banks of the Rio Nuevo, one of Mexicali’s busiest thoroughfares, Alfredo Raygoza spent years carving a life out of whatever he could find. Deported from the United States in 2019 and separated from his family in Arizona, Raygoza arrived...
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California billionaire tax proposal attracts 1.5 million signatures. Here’s what happens next
LOS ANGELES — California, home to the ultra-rich in Silicon Valley and Hollywood, is embroiled in a heated fight over whether to tax billionaires to fund healthcare. This week, supporters of the proposed billionaire tax began submitting nearly 1.6...
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Some Tijuana police officers begin wearing body cameras, with a focus on tourist areas
Police officers in Tijuana, Mexico, are now equipped with body cameras in an effort to strengthen transparency and accountability, officials said. Last week in a video posted on social media, Tijuana Mayor Ismael Burgueño announced the initial...
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PROUD OF YOUR GARDEN?
Send us photos of your garden and we will run some in the newspaper. Send photos, caption and contact information to [email protected]
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Landscaper faces multiple drug and DUI violations
Imperial County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 51-year-old Jose Reynaldo Valdez Barraza at the intersection of Stardust and Niles Avenue. Valdez Barraza, a landscaper, faces six violations, including possession of a narcotic controlled substance,...
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From the border to the Riviera: Student filmmakers set their sights on Cannes
A group of young filmmakers from the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) is one step away from trading the scorching heat of the desert for the glamour of the French Riviera. Their short film, La Hija del Sol (The Daughter of the Sun), has...
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Baja California lawmakers unanimously back federal reform to standardize femicide laws
The Baja California Assembly voted unanimously to endorse a federal constitutional reform aimed at standardizing how femicide is prosecuted across Mexico, a move designed to eliminate legal loopholes that vary by state. The reform to Article 73 of the...
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Construction worker apprehended on out-of-county warrant
A construction worker was detained on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction. According to sheriff’s records, Juan Antonio Brito Jr., 32, was arrested on Second Street. Brito is being held on a $75,000 bail for the out-ofcounty warrant. He...
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Assemblyman Gonzalez named 2026 Veteran of the Year
IMPERIAL — Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio) was named 2026 Veteran of the Year this past weekend by the Calexico Baja Runners, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans, youth, and families across Imperial County. A 21-year combat...
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‘Strong Families, Safe Futures’ celebrated at Bucklin Park Children’s Fair
EL CENTRO – Bucklin Park was overtaken by youth once again this April as Imperial County Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Council co-hosted its 45th Annual Children’s Fair at Bucklin Park on Saturday, April 18, with the Imperial County Office of Education....
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Sherri Kukla debuts new book Riders on the Storm
IMPERIAL — Local writer Sherri Kukla, who is from Ocotillo Wells, held a writer’s presentation of her latest book, “Riders On the Storm,” on Tuesday, April 14, at the PionYeoerusrMnuesweusm, o. ur According to the book’s blurb, Riders on the Storm “is...
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‘Feral,’ chair-throwing Adam Driver also was reportedly rude to NPR’s Terry Gross
Adam Driver is at the center of a fervid news cycle that is reminding him and everyone else that he has a reputation for being a certain type of supposedly serious actor: Temperamental, hot-headed, “spectacularly rude.” That’s because his former...
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Post-Stephen Colbert, CBS still wants an original late-night show
LOS ANGELES — CBS hasn’t given up on producing an original late-night show — despite easing Stephen Colbert out the door. “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” ends next month after CBS canceled the popular program, citing financial pressures. The...
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HAPPENING TOMORROW
April 16 Al-Anon in Spanish WHEN Noon to 2:00 p.m. WHERE ALANO CLUB, 564 Broadway St., El Centro, CA 92243 INFO Fe y Esperanza group meetings are held in Spanish to provide relief to family members and friends of alcoholic individuals. Lunch @ the...
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Hollywood stars line up against Paramount’s Warner Bros. acquisition
LOS ANGELES — A constellation of stars are lining up against Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, expressing fears the blockbuster merger would devastate the industry and shrink production jobs. The letter was signed by nearly...
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Fate of Supervisor Peggy Price’s seat uncertain amid potential recall push
EL CENTRO — The sentiment for a possible recall of at least one county supervisor was triggered Your news, our passion by what some community members perceived as unfair treatment and lack of respect during a recent Board of Supervisors meeting that...
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READERS’ PHOTOS
Send photos, caption and contact information to [email protected]
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El Centro young artists to master visual storytelling at ‘Comic Stars’ workshop
EL CENTRO — Local teenagers looking to transform their sketches into cinematic stories now have a dedicated space to hone their craft. The City of El Centro Parks and Recreation department has launched “Comic Stars: Comic Illustration Fundamentals,” a...
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Blake Lively demands Justin Baldoni say if he’ll testify at trial, with no sign of settlement in case
NEW YORK — Lawyers for Blake Lively on Tuesday asked a judge to compel her “It Ends with Us” co-star Justin Baldoni and others she’s suing for retaliation to disclose whether they will take the stand at the trial starting next month, with talks over a...
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Tortoises and hares bring Easter joy to families
HOLTVILLE — Tortoises and hares joined forces on a bright and sunny spring morning in Holtville to bring joy and laughter to children as families celebrated Easter festivities at Holt Park on Saturday, April 4. The tortoise race is a unique and...
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Chicano Rap veteran Mr. Knightmare breaks barriers, embraces sobriety after 27 years in the game
EL CENTRO — In an industry often characterized by transient trends and sudden viral hits, the artist known as Mr. Knightmare is pursuing a long-term strategy. With 27 years of experience, the Mexicali-born rapper is currently witnessing the fruits of...
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Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni dismissed by judge
LOS ANGELES — A federal judge has dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director Justin Baldoni, sharply narrowing a case that has become one of Hollywood’s most closely watched legal battles. In a...
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Megan Thee Stallion recovering after hospitalization for ‘extreme exhaustion, dehydration’
LOS ANGELES — Megan Thee Stallion is on the mend after a bout of “concerning symptoms” landed her in the hospital Tuesday evening, cutting her latest “Moulin Rouge” performance short. A spokesperson for the rap star, 31, confirmed to The Times on...
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Brawley tables letter to nImteprermiaeletincgouenrtyurpegtasrding county regarding Northern Horizons project chaos, sparks outrage on both sides Horizons project
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Mariska Hargitay to replace Daniel Radcli e in ‘Every Brilliant Thing’
Mariska Hargitay of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” fame is heading to Broadway to replace Daniel Radcliffe in “Every Brilliant Thing” when he leaves the solo show in May. The Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actress will breathe new life into the...
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A life of kindness: Community honors beloved educator
IMPERIAL - For the family of Lupita Olguin-Rubio, the memory of their beloved daughter, sister, wife, and mother lovingly nicknamed ‘Pita’ can be summarized in one word – kindness. Lupita Olguin was born in Mexicali on December 24, 1970 and came to...
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