Oakland, a blue city in California, took down a traffic light at a busy intersection after thieves kept swiping copper wire, and residents say the nearby homeless encampment is to blame. City workers replaced the traffic lights with four-way stop signs at the intersection located at East 12th Street and 16th Avenue. The move came after people repeatedly stole copper wire and tampered with the electrical box at the intersection to allegedly steal power. The city tried putting heavy cement blocks on top of the electrical boxes, but people simply dragged them out of the way, a city spokesman said. The stop signs are temporary, according to the city, but it does not have a timeline for reinstalling the traffic lights. Neighbors expressed their frustration, and some blamed the homeless encampment around the intersection. The encampment spans about three blocks on 12th Street from 17th and 14th Avenues. “If you really want to fix the stop sign, I think you really have to clean up this homeless encampment,” Tam Le, owner of Le’s Auto Body & Engine Repair, told CBS San Francisco. He has been running his auto shop on a corner of the intersection for more than 25 years. “It’s just telling us that the city is giving up on us,” Le said. The traffic lights had not worked properly for months before they were taken down, residents said. “The city did try to fix the traffic light at least a few times. But once they fixed it, normally within a week or so, it will go out again,” Le said. Violent crime is up overall in Oakland compared to this time last year, according to the latest police data. Robberies, in particular, have spiked, topping 1,000 incidents already this year. Robberies involving a gun are up 21% to 409 incidents, and carjackings are up 4% to 166 incidents. Aggravated assaults are down but remain high at more than 900 incidents. Homicides are also down, but 23 people have already been killed this year. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Oakland residents have been sounding off about rising crime for at least a year. Last May, about 500 angry residents showed up to a town hall meeting on crime to demand answers from city leaders on Oakland becoming more dangerous, especially violent incidents perpetrated on women and the elderly. In July, the Oakland chapter of the NAACP blasted city leaders and called for a state of emergency over the city’s crime “crisis.” The black civil rights organization, which tends to lean Left, blamed the “defund the police” movement specifically as part of the reason for the crime spike. In nearby San Francisco, the worsening trifecta of crime, homelessness, and public drug use has caused many businesses to abandon the city’s once bustling downtown area. This has left many commercial buildings empty and cut into the city’s tax revenue, exacerbating the city’s growing budget deficit, which officials warned could reach nearly $1.4 billion by 2027.

A fun bike ride turned into a nightmare for Hollywood star Nina Dobrev, as she was rushed to the hospital after a terrifying accident. The actress, known for her roles in popular TV shows and films, took to social media to share the news with her fans. As she bravely faces the challenges ahead, Dobrev's road to recovery seems to be a long and winding one. The incident occurred while Dobrev was out riding her bike, enjoying a sunny day. Details of the accident have not been revealed, but it is believed that she suffered serious injuries. The news has left her fans in shock and disbelief, as they send their well wishes and prayers for her speedy recovery. Dobrev's team has also released a statement, asking for privacy during this difficult time. Nina Dobrev shares that she's facing a "long road of recovery ahead" after posting a picture from a bike ride and then a selfie from the hospital, captioned "How it started vs how it’s going ." pic.twitter.com/A7IZNExE7z — Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) May 20, 2024 According to sources close to the actress, Dobrev's injuries are not life-threatening, but they will require a lot of care and attention. The road to recovery is expected to be a challenging one, as Dobrev faces a series of treatments and therapy sessions. As she focuses on her healing, her fans continue to show their love and support through social media, sending her uplifting messages and positive energy. Despite the tough circumstances, Dobrev remains optimistic and determined to make a full recovery. In her social media post, she expressed her gratitude for the love and support she has received, stating that it will give her strength on the road ahead. The actress also reassured her fans that she is in good hands and is receiving the best possible care. https://twitter.com/Leg453/status/1791225516613087437 Dobrev's accident serves as a reminder of the risks involved in outdoor activities, even for the most experienced individuals. It also highlights the importance of safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet while riding a bike. As Dobrev goes through her recovery process, her fans are reminded to take care and stay safe. As an actress, Dobrev is used to playing tough and resilient characters on screen. However, in this real-life situation, she is facing a different kind of challenge. With her determination and positive attitude, there is no doubt that she will come out of this experience stronger and more resilient than ever. Although there is no set timeline for Dobrev's recovery, her fans are eagerly waiting for her return to the spotlight. In the meantime, they continue to send their love and support, eagerly anticipating the day when their favorite star will grace their screens once again. As for Dobrev, she remains grateful for the love and support she has received and looks forward to getting back on her feet. What are YOUR thoughts? We want to hear from you! Please comment below to join the discussion. The post A Bumpy Ride: Actress Nina Dobrev Hospitalized After Bike Accident, Faces a Lengthy Road to Recovery appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

Sunday’s season finale of American Idol got rather emotional — and not just because of winner Abi Carter’s final performance. This also marked Katy Perry’s last night as judge on American Idol. Although most of the night was spent giving the contestants the love and attention they deserve, there were still plenty of great moments throughout the night that had both Perry and her fans in tears. One of these moments took place during a duet with Perry and contestant Jack Blocker. Together, they sang one of her own songs, What Makes A Woman. Their voices sound absolutely perfect together! What makes this performance especially moving, however, has to do with what Perry wore: a super long dress with the faces of 168 American Idol contestants all over it. there it is… 7 years #idol pic.twitter.com/wWMcx1Zp1k— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) May 20, 2024 “I thought a good way to honor my time here would be to put the top 24 of each season on my skirt so they were all there,” Perry explains. “It was a fun surprise because I was raising up and you just saw more and more contestants.” Perry’s fans couldn’t agree more, noting that the positive impact she’s been able to have on so many artists over the years. Katy Perry’s Final Night as Judge on American Idol Gets Emotional “[Katy] bought a lot to the young people on the stage,” one fan notes. “Gave them the advice and encouragement that will stay with them always.” To cap off the emotional night, there was the announcement of this season’s winner, Abi Carter. As always, the newly crowned winner performed a song — What Was I Made For by Billie Eilish. This felt like the perfect song to play as Perry took in her last few moments as a judge, clearly teary-eyed. Spoiler Alert Katy Perry gets emotional during the final moments of the #AmericanIdol Season 22 finale pic.twitter.com/o1K1famDG0— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) May 20, 2024 Also fittingly, fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie gathered around Perry for a heartwarming group hug. The group has become quite close over the years, so there’s no doubt that Perry’s absence will be felt by them, too. Fans Share Kind Words After Katy Perry’s Final American Idol Episode “I’m going to miss her. She’s hilarious, the best 3 judges eveeeer!” one fan writes. “Gained a lot of respect for Katy over the years and became a fan of her as a person. She was great judge and seemed to genuinely care about the contestant, even signed one of them to her label (Michael J Woodard),” another notes. “It became obvious she wasn’t just there for herself and the show certainly has big shoes to now fill. Thank you Katy for 7 great years.” “I am going really miss Katy in American Idol,” another admits, “but I really truly wish her all the best for the future.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Katy Perry’s Emotional Last Night On “American Idol” Has Fans Tearing Up appeared first on InspireMore.

One couple came up with the most hilarious and creative pregnancy reveal any Texas Roadhouse has ever seen! Marissa Mero caught the special moment on camera when she went to dinner with her husband and her baby’s future grandparents. After the family sat down, Grandma was surprised and confused to find an ultrasound photo in her menu. She couldn’t fathom who would leave something so important behind! “Somebody forgot their baby picture,” she said, holding up the image for everyone to see. Marissa and her partner feigned surprise while trying to prompt Grandma to dig a little deeper into the identity of the mystery baby. It didn’t occur to the older woman right away that the photo in the Texas Roadhouse menu could be part of an elaborate pregnancy reveal. @marissamero Telling my parents I’m pregnant at Texas Roadhouse while on vacation with our 6 month old #pregnant #pregnancyannouncement ♬ original sound – Marissa Mero “That’s weird,” Marissa responded. “Is there a name on it or something?” That’s when the grandparents-to-be figured it out. There was a name on the ultrasound image: Marissa Mero! The elderly couple was overjoyed when they realized what was going on. Everyone at the table had a good laugh after the unusual pregnancy announcement. This pregnancy reveal idea is too sweet! The heartwarming video has received over four million views. Commenters loved the couple’s creative pregnancy reveal at Texas Roadhouse. However, a few noticed something very funny about Grandpa’s response. “Dad immediately moving it out of the way so he can see his menu,” one person joked. Marissa replied, “It’s the ‘good news!’ then back to the menu for me.” Screengrab from TikTok Before informing the grandparents-to-be, this mom also found a very creative way to tell her husband about the baby. Although it didn’t take place at Texas Roadhouse, this pregnancy reveal video was also pretty cool! First, Marissa made her partner close his eyes and take off his hat. Then, she replaced it with a baseball cap that read, “Daddy.” It worked like a charm — this man knew right away he was going to be a father, and he couldn’t have been more excited! However you deliver the news, one thing’s for sure: a pregnancy announcement is truly special! We’re sure these grandparents will never forget their Texas Roadhouse experience. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Grandma “Finds” Ultrasound Photo In Her Menu At Texas Roadhouse For The Sweetest Reason appeared first on InspireMore.

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Russell Nicolet of Nicolet Law is no stranger to taking charge and exploring the unknown. As the first lawyer in his family, Nicolet threw caution to the wind when he decided to go to law school and did the same when he chose to open his own firm. Nicolet’s passion and enthusiasm for helping individuals […]

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