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How ‘American Confidential’ explores JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and his mom

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

This November 22 will mark 60 years since President John F. Kennedy was gunned down in Dallas – an event that not only terrorized a nation and inspired the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, but spawned a vast body of literature about the murder and its meaning in American life. Now Los Angeles-based author Deanne Stillman shines a light into a little-known corner of this tale with “American Confidential: Uncovering the Bizarre Story of Lee Harvey Oswald and his Mother,” publishing Nov. 7 from Melville House. Stillman is best known for her evocative nonfiction that explores brutal histories in the West, with such titles as “Twentynine Palms: A True Story of Murder, Marines and the Mojave,” “Mustang,” “Desert Reckoning” and “Blood Brothers: The Story of the Strange Friendship Between Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill.”“American Confidential” continues Stillman’s oeuvre exploring the dark side of the American psyche. It delves into the troubled life of a man who, she argues, was the prot...

Quick Fix: Turkey Hash

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

Linda Gassenheimer | Tribune News Service (TNS)What’s Thanksgiving without some leftover turkey? Even on those rare occasions when I’m not preparing the turkey, I still feel the urge to at least cook a turkey breast to have some leftover. This is a one-pot meal that tastes great the second day. Double the recipe if you have time and save the rest for another day. It also freezes well. Refrigerate or freeze the extra without the fried egg. Add the egg before serving.You don’t need to wait for turkey leftovers. You can buy roasted turkey pieces in the meat department or roasted turkey in the deli. If you buy deli meat, ask them to slice it thick so you can cut it into cubes.HELPFUL HINTS:Fresh sweet potato can be used instead of frozen; microwave them 4 minutes before adding to the skillet.Roasted chicken can be used instead of turkey.COUNTDOWN:Prepare all ingredients.Make the hash.Fry the eggs.SHOPPING LIST:To buy: 1 bag froze sweet potato cubes, 3/4 pound roasted turkey (left over o...

After Massachusetts cannabis worker died from asthma attack, state pushes marijuana industry to take extra safety steps

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

After a Bay State cannabis worker suffered an asthma attack and died, the state Department of Public Health is pushing the local marijuana industry to take extra safety steps to prevent work-related asthma.A Trulieve Cannabis Corp. employee who was packaging ground cannabis into pre-rolls at the company’s Holyoke processing facility suffered an asthma attack and later died in the hospital last year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated, and the company later settled with OSHA.DPH and OSHA confirmed that the death of the 27-year-old production technician was the first known occupational asthma fatality in the U.S. cannabis workforce.Other cases of non-fatal respiratory disease among Massachusetts workers have been reported. Cannabis industry workers can be regularly exposed to respiratory hazards — which can exacerbate chronic diseases, like asthma.DPH’s new report on the worker’s death includes six recommendations for cannabis employ...

Recipe: Sweet Potato Crunch casserole is a perfect holiday meal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

This Sweet Potato Crunch casserole is dandy for holiday meals because much of the work can be done in advance. The sweet potatoes are baked in the oven; once partially cooled and peeled, they are mashed and combined with butter, orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier, sugar, salt, and orange zest. The mashed mix is transferred into an 8-inch square baking dish. Once completely cooled, it can be covered with aluminum foil and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.About an hour before serving, bake the refrigerated spuds, covered, for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prep the topping, a mix of melted butter, flour, brown sugar, and cayenne. Once transformed into pea-sized pieces, the topping crowns the sweet potatoes and bakes for about 25 to 30 minutes.Sweet Potato CrunchYield: 8 servingsINGREDIENTS4 pounds sweet potatoes, unpeeled; see cook’s notes4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted2 tablespoons Grand Mariner, see cook’s notes1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar1 1/4 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon grated...

5 do-ahead recipes for your Thanksgiving feast

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

Hosting a Thanksgiving feast isn’t a leisurely walk in the park. The race to get all the dishes done at the same time is worthy of an Olympics of cooking medal. But a few hours of cooking ahead can reduce the hassle. Prepare in advance, and you’ll even enjoy this holiday meal, in all its gravy and side dish glory.Sure, you can’t stuff the turkey ahead. The potatoes taste best when cooked and mashed the same day they’re served. And the gravy, made from turkey drippings, is still a last-minute chore.But you can make the cranberry sauce, salad dressing, braised red cabbage and dessert in advance and tuck them in the refrigerator or pantry, depending on the dish.That’s your insurance policy for sanity on the big day.Pumpkin Cake with Buttermilk IcingThe flavors in this delicious pumpkin Bundt cake continue to develop when made a couple of days in advance. I like to serve it with ice cream; when I can find it, my ice cream choice is pumpkin or rum raisin.To make ahead: Cake can be made 3...

California authorities arrest college professor in the death of Jewish demonstrator

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

By JOHN ANTCZAK and JULIE WATSON (Associated Press)LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California college professor was arrested Thursday in the death of a Jewish protester during demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war. Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, 50, was booked into jail on suspicion of of involuntary manslaughter — the unintentional killing of another person, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said. The district attorney’s office said it was reviewing the case and expects to make a charging decision later Thursday.A man who answered the phone at a mobile number listed for Alnaji in public records said he did not want to comment. He did not give his name. Paul Kessler, 69, died early Nov. 6 at a hospital following a confrontation the previous day with the suspect during what started as a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Thousand Oaks, a suburb northwest of Los Angeles, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff told reporters on Nov. 7. Kessler was among a group of pro-Is...

Are items hanging from rearview mirrors illegal in California?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KSWB) -- From dangling lanyards to Hawaiian leis and air fresheners, it's common for drivers to have items hanging from their rearview mirrors. But is it legal?Some may argue that having that keepsake necklace or retractable lighter attached to these middle windshield mirrors is harmless. California state law, however, disagrees. In fact, Golden State lawmakers have explicitly forbid the obstruction of a driver’s view through the side window or windshield. California does not legally allow drivers to hang decorative items, pendants, face masks, or other objects onto the interior rearview mirror if they could possibly obstruct their view.This rule is part of California Vehicle Code 26708 (2), which states the following:(2) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle that obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows."Althoug...

A pregnant woman who was put on life support after a Missouri mall shooting has died, police say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A pregnant woman who was shot in the head during a shooting at a Missouri mall last week has died, police confirmed Thursday. The woman had been on life support after being shot in the temple Friday at Independence Center, according to a report by police in the Kansas City suburb of Independence. Police said she was four months pregnant. Independence police have not released the victim’s name or age yet. A family friend gathering money to help pay for cremation costs identified her as 19-year-old Karla Brown in an interview with the Kansas City Star. Two others were shot in the leg when gunfire broke out, and the suspected shooter was shot in the back, Independence police said. A 21-year-old Independence resident has been charged with armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in the mall shooting. Independence police Officer Kelley Rupert in an email said those charges will be updated following the woman’s death. The defendant is in jail...

Advocates say increase to Ontario ECE wages doesn’t go far enough for retention of workers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

Child care advocates warn a new plan from the provincial and federal governments doesn’t go far enough to retain workers and boost the industry as they approach $10/day care.The Comprehensive Childcare Workforce Strategy announced Thursday is expected to support the recruitment and retention of talented educators.The province announced an increase to the wage floor for a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) from $20 per hour to $23.84 per hour. It’s expected to rise to $25.86 by 2025. Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the increase will create wage parity with those working in schools and allow daycare centres to keep more workers.“It also brings ECE’s minimum wage to be in the top four wages in the country by province,” said Lecce. “We’re committed to the workforce and we’re committed to keeping fees low. It’s why we see this as a way to enable childcare fee reduction by increasing access to the workforce, shoring them ...

Alex Murdaugh murder trial judge steps aside after Murdaugh asks for new trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:00 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The judge that presided over Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial has agreed to step aside as the former lawyer convicted of killing his wife and younger son requests a new trial, citing alleged jury tampering, the South Carolina Supreme Court said Thursday.But the justices refused a request from defense lawyers to remove Judge Clifton Newman from Murdaugh’s state trial on financial crime charges and to delay the trial, set to begin Nov. 27.Murdaugh is serving a life sentence without parole. A jury convicted him of two counts of murder in March after a sensational six-week trial during which prosecutors argued that he gunned his wife and son down because his life of power, privilege and prestige was falling apart.Months after his convictions, Murdaugh’s lawyers requested a new trial, saying several jurors whom they interviewed told them that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill tampered with the jury by suggesting Murdaugh was guilty, encouragi...