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Family of indicted art dealer Douglas Latchford gives up $12 million in historic antiquities settlement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

The late Douglas Latchford made millions selling antiquities suspected to be stolen from holy sites across Southeast Asia to wealthy American collectors and prestigious museums, including the Denver Art Museum.Now the U.S. government says his money is tainted — and they want it back.Federal prosecutors, in a landmark civil action on Wednesday, announced Latchford’s daughter agreed to return $12 million in proceeds her father garnered from selling plundered artifacts.The deal, spearheaded by the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York and Homeland Security Investigations, represents the largest-ever forfeiture of money from the sale of stolen antiquities, the agencies said in a news release.RELATED: Looted: Stolen relics, laundered art and a Colorado scholar’s role in the illicit antiquities trade“For years, Douglas Latchford made millions from selling looted antiquities in the U.S. art market, stashing his ill-gotten gains offshore,” U.S....

Denver’s Hotel Engine unveils services to meet business travel needs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

Post-pandemic business travel has picked up and a Colorado company that handles hotel reservations for businesses worldwide is expanding its services to keep pace.Hotel Engine, based in Denver, announced new services this week to make it easier for companies to arrange lodging for big groups and to reschedule or cancel travel plans without worrying about cancelation fees.Hotel Engine founder and CEO Elia Wallen said Wednesday that companies lose millions of dollars every week on unused hotel rooms because policies haven’t adapted to travel needs.“We can go not too far in the near past with COVID and the shock that created to a lot of people and travel plans,” Wallen said.Hotel Engine is offering a subscription service called FlexPro, which the company called a first of its kind in the industry. For $200 a month, companies can cancel or alter reservations up to noon on the day of check-in.Alternatives are to pay for expensive travel insurance or hope the hotel sympa...

Echo Park crash leaves more than 2,700 without power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

A speeding vehicle crashed into a power pole in Echo Park late Thursday leaving thousands of people without power Friday morning.The solo-vehicle crash occurred around 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Vin Scully Avenue. The vehicle involved had been speeding when it sheared a hydrant and then crashed into a power pole, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said at the scene.Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews were sent to the scene to repair the damage that left about 2,700 people without power. The repairs were expected to be completed around 4 a.m. Friday.No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

Has restaurant tipping gotten out of hand?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

American diners may be reaching a tipping point. Not long ago, a restaurant tip was a 15 percent gratuity for the server, calculated on a napkin and scrawled on a credit card receipt at the end of a sit-down meal. The server didn’t know the sum until the diner had departed. In 2023, tipping, or choosing not to, has expanded into a near-universal ritual of food service. Customers at a humble takeout joint might face a choice among three double-digit gratuities on a touch screen, under the penetrating gaze of a cashier.  Two societal forces, the COVID-19 pandemic and touch-screen point-of-sale tablets, have conspired to transform the American tipping culture. The gratuity has colonized the food-service universe, from fast-food restaurants to food trucks to farmers markets. “My family went strawberry picking last weekend,” said Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate.com. “I made the reservation. They asked me for a tip. I asked my wife, ‘What are we tipp...

‘Inside California Politics: The Race for the Senate,’ a special program on the leading candidates for U.S. Senator for California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

Inside California Politics takes an in-depth look into the U.S. Senate race to replace the retiring Dianne Feinstein in the special program, “Inside California Politics: The Race for the Senate.”The three leading contenders vying for the seat are Democratic members of Congress Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), Katie Porter (D-Orange County), and Barbara Lee (D-Oakland).All three joined Inside California Politics to share the message that they have for California voters.The primary election is in March 2024, and in a recent poll by Inside California Politics and Emerson College Polling, Schiff and Porter are in a statistical tie as the top choice of respondents, with Lee several percentage points behind. What new laws are going into effect in California in July? The poll found that 47% of respondents are still undecided about their pick for senator, although almost two-thirds of voters think Feinstein should resign before the end of her current term, which ends in January 2025.All three maj...

Honey Burn Reviews (Beware from SCAM) Honey Comb Ingredients to Lose Weight?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

Honey Burn is a unique purple honey that supports weight loss and provides anti-aging benefits. It contains a proprietary blend of natural ingredients that have been carefully selected for their potential fat-burning and antioxidant properties.Though people are well adapted to sophisticated life, they strive hard to maintain their shape and appearance with hours of workouts and expensive practices. It is because physical appearance plays a vital role in one’s performance. Unfortunately, these involvements may not result as desired as the root cause is still untreated. Hence, many individuals are turning to natural solutions in the quest for weight loss and anti-aging. One such solution gaining popularity is Honey Burn, a purple honey designed to boost lipase production and accelerate fat burning. In this article, we will explore what Honey Burn is, how it works, its ingredients, safety, benefits, and reviews. We will also discuss how to purchase Honey Burn and provide a conclusion.W...

Beyond the Hype: The Top 10 Network Marketers Who Have Earned Their Stripes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

Gone are the days when people have to rely on a single source of income or struggle to climb the corporate ladder. Network marketing can provide you with endless opportunities to have a flexible career path that aligns with your lifestyle or an opportunity to let your entrepreneurship skills take the driving seat. Network Marketing, also known as multi-level marketing (MLM), is a world where entrepreneurship meets community. A thriving industry that has revolutionized the way people do business and achieve financial freedom. It might not sound convincing but what if someone is experiencing all these things? Would you believe it then? Below is the list of individuals who not only have a career in this field but also master what they do. All come from unconventional backgrounds and have proven the potential this industry has.#1 Justin Prince At just 42 years old, Justin Prince has established himself as a global entrepreneur in the network marketing world. With a stellar career, Justi...

Questions emerge about Titanic-bound sub’s regulation, as investigators hunt for reason it imploded

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

By PATRICK WHITTLE (Associated Press)Authorities hunted Friday for the reason a submersible carrying people to the wreck of the Titanic imploded deep in the North Atlantic, as questions emerged about how such expeditions are regulated and tributes poured in for the five aboard who were killed.The announcement that no one survived Thursday brought a tragic end to a five-day saga that included an urgent around-the-clock search for the vessel known as the Titan.The investigation into what happened was already underway and would continue in the area around Titanic where debris from the submersible was found, said Rear Adm. John Mauger, of the First Coast Guard District. “I know there are also a lot of questions about how, why and when did this happen. Those are questions we will collect as much information as we can about now,” Mauger said, adding that it was a “complex case” that happened in a remote part of the ocean and involved people from several different c...

Analysis: What the Jordan Poole, Chris Paul trade means for the Warriors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

Mike Dunleavy Jr. made a splash in his first major move as the Warriors newest general manager.The Warriors are set to deal Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards for future Hall of Famer Chris Paul. As part of the trade, which can’t be made official until Poole’s extension kicks in July 6, the Wizards will also get second-year player Ryan Rollins, a protected 2030 first-round pick and 2027 second-round pick from Golden State.The Warriors did this as a commitment to the here and now, effectively throwing their long-touted two-timeline plan out the window. There’s a lot of layers to this jaw-dropping move that need to be examined:Why Chris Paul?Paul will transform from a storied Warriors adversary to a teammate both sides hope can help win them more titles before Curry retires – and Paul his first ring in his 18-year career.At first glance, the point guard swap seems risky. Poole turned 24 last week and signed a four-year extension after a breakout 2022 season in wh...

NBA Draft list: The first-round picks, with only one of top five from a U.S. college

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

For the first time since 2001, four of the top five picks in the NBA draft did not play college basketball in the United States.No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama will join the San Antonio Spurs after having played in France’s top league.The third pick, Scoot Henderson, went to the Portland Trail Blazers after two seasons with the G League Ignite. Last season, he averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 25 games, including a 28- point outburst in a preseason game against Wembanyama’s Metropolitans 92 squad.The next two picks, twins Amen and Ausar Thompson, played for Overtime Elite, an Atlanta-based pro league for 16- to 20-year-olds. Amen Thompson went to the Houston Rockets, while Ausar went to the Detroit Pistons.The only top-five pick who played in college was Brandon Miller, a one-and-done player out of Alabama who went to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 2.Wembanyama played the past three seasons in France’s Pro A. Last season, he led the league in scoring, rebo...