Sizzling heat wave blankets US Southwest

LOS ANGELES - Much of the western United States baked for a third day on Wednesday under a punishing heat wave that has set temperature records, prompted health warnings and strained power grids.

Although a shift in the weather has provided some relief to northern states, including Montana and Idaho, the worst was still to come for California and parts of the Southwest, National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Schoening said.

"We're in a long-duration heat wave across the Western U.S.," Schoening said. "Across the desert Southwest extending into California we're still ramping up the temperatures throughout the rest of the week."

Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday tied its all-time high temperature since record-keeping began in 1894, at 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius). Phoenix tied a record for this date at 115 degrees and Needles, California, in the Mojave Desert near the border of both Nevada and Arizona, hit 121 degrees, also tying a daily record.

The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings across the U.S. West, warning that such conditions can be dangerous, even fatal. No deaths had been reported from the brutally hot weather as of Wednesday afternoon.

"Try not to spend too much time outside during the hottest part of the day. Wear light clothing, stay hydrated," Schoening said, adding that residents should be "keeping an eye on pets, checking on the elderly, not leaving anyone, including kids or pets in hot cars."

WILDFIRE DANGERS

The weather service also issued red flag warnings of high fire danger in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. Major wildfires were burning in Colorado and Arizona.

Wildfires scorched more than 6,500 square miles (17,000 square km) of land in 2020, destroying hundreds of Californian homes during a particularly fierce fire season.

The unusually severe late-spring heat wave was the result of a high-pressure ridge that built over southwestern deserts, weather service meteorologists say, and could not be blamed directly on global warming.

"But studies show that as the climate changes and it gets warmer, we will see more of these anomalous events over time," Schoening said.

The brutal heat triggered a surge in electricity demand as residents cranked up air conditioners and fans. Texas and California, the two most populous U.S. states, urged energy conservation.

California's grid operator issued a "Flex Alert" for Thursday evening, telling residents to turn off unneeded appliances and office equipment between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. and thermostats higher.

California and Texas both imposed rolling blackouts over the last year to avoid a power system collapse, California due to the heat in August 2020 and Texas in February 2021 after a deep freeze that left millions without heat.

Much of the U.S. Southwest is also in the grip of a drought that has cut hydropower supplies, leaving rivers running dry and prompting ranchers to sell livestock.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates most of the state's power system, projected demand would break the June record, set on Monday, in the coming days.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino in New York, Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico, Aishwarya Nair in Bangalore and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Leslie Adler)

-reuters-

Filipino-Americans 'fired up' as Tagalog added to Nevada ballot

LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao, roast pig dinners and prayer services: Activists are using every tool possible to get the booming Filipino-American community in Las Vegas to the polls for Saturday's Democratic nomination vote.

Overlooked in the past, Filipinos have rapidly become the western desert state's largest Asian-American community -- almost 200,000 by some estimates, in a state of 3 million people -- forcing candidates to take notice.

For the first time, the Tagalog language will be used on voting cards along with English and Spanish at the Democratic caucuses.

"We're proud that they are recognizing us," said Margie Gonzales, a Filipina community leader. "It means a lot -- it means recognition."

Gonzales, who chairs the county's Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) commission, has also begun training politicians to speak a few Tagalog words.

"When you start knocking on doors, it helps if you greet a Filipino family opening the door in Tagalog," she said. "That's a way to make that person smile -- you feel welcome."

Feeling welcome is key for a minority community in which immigration and xenophobia are major concerns. Like Latinos, Filipino-Americans tend to vote Democrat.

"When Trump talks about not bringing in relatives and things like that, that same thing applies to Asians," said Tick Segerblom, a commissioner for Clark County, where Las Vegas is located. "So Trump has really been a boon as far as organizing Asians."

But traditionally, Filipino-Americans have not voted in large numbers.

To counter that, Gonzales and her fellow activists introduced a tradition commonly found during election campaigns back in the Philippines -- the Kamayan, a large communal feast.

These typically see politicians mingle at long tables covered in banana leaves, with a whole roast pig on the menu.

'SQUEAK OF A MOUSE'

The feasts hosted in Las Vegas by Gonzales so far have not endorsed specific candidates. A grand Kamayan is planned once the Democratic Party settles on a nominee -- but that has not stopped those in the race from reaching out.

Democratic candidate Tulsi Gabbard, who is Hawaiian, has made inroads, as have Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren.

"This is an overlooked and often ignored community and I feel like Elizabeth Warren celebrates our existence and doesn't use us as props," said Filipina campaign volunteer Ninna Diaz, 27.

The community is "definitely taking notice," she added. 

More recently, Gonzales has conducted Tagalog language caucus training for campaigns including that of Bernie Sanders.

"The mere fact that a lot of politicians are calling me and other Filipino-American leaders, it shows you that we are becoming important," she said.

"They are paying attention to us, because they know now that we vote."

She added: "Our voice used to be like the squeak of a mouse... But we are getting fired up now."

In a sign of the group's growing visibility, Segerblom and others are leading a campaign to rename a stretch of eastern Las Vegas, which is home to many community restaurants and stores, Little Filipinotown.

But Gonzales turned to one of the most visible icons of all -- global boxing superstar and Philippine Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who was in Las Vegas for a fight in 2014.

"We were able to get to his suite -- he posed with us, holding our banner," said Gonzales, who now uses the image to boost voter registration drives.

"It gets the Filipinos excited -- in fact, even non-Filipinos!"

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Alien enthusiasts descend on Nevada desert near secretive US base

RACHEL, Nev., - UFO enthusiasts began descending on rural Nevada on Thursday near the secret U.S. military installation known as Area 51, long rumored to house government secrets about alien life, with local authorities hoping the visitors were coming in peace.

Some residents of Rachel, a remote desert town of 50 people a short distance from the military base, worried their community might be overwhelmed by unruly crowds turning out in response to a recent, viral social-media invitation to "storm" Area 51. The town, about 150 miles (240 km) north of Las Vegas, lacks a grocery store or even a gasoline station.

Dozens of visitors began arriving outside Rachel's only business - an extraterrestrial-themed motel and restaurant called the Little A'Le'Inn - parking themselves in cars, tents and campers. A fire truck was stationed nearby.

One couple, Nicholas Bohen and Cayla McVey, both sporting UFO tattoos, traveled to Rachel from the Los Angeles suburb of Fullerton with enough food to last for a week of car-camping.

"It's evolved into a peaceful gathering, a sharing of life stories," McVey told Reuters, sizing up the crowd. "I think you are going to get a group of people that are prepared, respectful and they know what they getting themselves into."

Area 51 was shrouded in secrecy for decades, stoking conspiracy theories that it housed the remnants of a flying saucer and the bodies of its alien crew from the crash of an unidentified flying object in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. The U.S. government did not confirm the base existed until 2013, when it released CIA archives saying the site was used to test top-secret spy planes.

The documents, however, did not end suspicion about space aliens there.

Rachel and its surroundings have long celebrated their place in UFO lore as a tourist draw. A 98-mile (158-km) road running through the area is dubbed the Extraterrestrial Highway, a purported hotbed of UFO sightings.

In June, California college student Matty Roberts posted a facetious Facebook invitation exhorting the public at large to run into Area 51 on foot to "see them aliens."

When more than 1 million people expressed interest, the U.S. Air Force admonished curiosity seekers not to breach the gates at the military base, which it said is still used to test combat aircraft and train personnel.

"NO STOPPING IT"

Roberts then teamed up with Connie West, co-owner of the Little A'Le'Inn, to plan a music festival in Rachel dubbed "Alienstock" to entertain the expected crowds.

In early September, however, Roberts disassociated himself from the Rachel event, saying it was poorly organized and he feared it could devolve into a public safety crisis. Instead, he helped stage an alternative Alienstock set to take place Thursday night in Las Vegas. Beer brand Bud Light signed on as a sponsor and designed limited-edition, green beer cans featuring alien heads.

West said the event in Rachel would go on as planned.

"It's happening. There was no stopping it," she said on Thursday, adding that some visitors had come from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. "I hope they just enjoy the party we are throwing."

About 40 miles (64 km) east of Rachel, the small town of Hiko planned an event called "Storm Area 51 Basecamp" at a gift shop dubbed the Alien Research Center. Organizers promised musicians, artists and "prominent ufologists," and by Thursday had sold 3,200 tickets, according to Linda Looney, manager of the shop.

“This whole thing has been a shock to this little community,” she said, adding that organizers had hired 15 security guards and a private ambulance and ordered 80 portable toilets. “It’s going to be really cool. I’m excited.”

The influx of alien hunters prompted Lincoln County, which encompasses Rachel and Hiko, to draft an emergency declaration that could be invoked if needed to call in help from the state.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said visitors should expect "a large presence of law enforcement." Authorities urged everyone to bring ample supplies of food, water and fuel.

Five sheriff's patrol cars were posted just outside the Area 51 gate, where a handful of people had come to take photos.

Despite a festive, peaceful mood back in town, the official Rachel website was decidedly unwelcoming.

"If any event still happens it is going to be a pretty sad affair with no bands, no food, very little infrastructure and a lot of unhappy campers," it said. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

WATCH: Pacquiao, Thurman weigh-in staredown

MANILA—Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman made the weight early Saturday (Manila time) in Las Vegas, Nevada before they square off for the WBA welterweight showdown.

Both fighters stared intimidatingly at each other for half a minute after hitting the scales.

The 40-year-old Filipino ring icon, a multi-division world champion, came in at 146.5 pounds.

"It's gonna be a good fight cause I want to prove something. I'm so focus for this fight. I'm ready for tomorrow," Pacquiao said to the cheers of Filipino fans.

"I'm so prepared for this fight. This is I think one of my best training camp we had and best condition."

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old American fighter, who has tallied a 29-0 record, 22 via knockout, tipped the scales at 146.5 pounds.

"It is my time. This is one time and still champion 'bout tomorrow night. Manny Pacquiao ain't doing nothing to me baby," said Thurman who was booed loudly by the crowd.

Both fighters who are recognized by the WBA as world welterweight titleholders will battle in a 12-round title fight Sunday morning (Manila time) at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Train derails in US, spilling vegetable oil, closing major highway

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES—A Union Pacific freight train derailed in Nevada, US on Wednesday, spilling vegetable oil and prompting the closure of an interstate highway.

The vegetable oil spilled out of 1 of the 22 derailed cars after the train went off the tracks shortly before 11 a.m. local time, the Elko County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook, citing Union Pacific Railroad officials.

"We had some vegetable oil and some diesel spill. There was nothing hazardous that was released or in the derailed cars," Union Pacific spokeswoman Kristen South said.

South said ammunition was being carried on the train but was not in the cars that derailed. She said there were no injuries in the derailment and that the cause was under investigation.

The derailment near Wells, Nevada, about 180 miles (290 km) west of Salt Lake City, Utah, prompted authorities to shut down Interstate-80 in both directions, the Nevada Department of Transportation said on Twitter.

A photo of the scene showed smoke rising from a jumble of rail cars.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Drake breaks record for most Billboard Music awards of all time

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Canadian rapper Drake broke Taylor Swift's record for most Billboard Music Awards of all time in Las Vegas on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

The 32-year-old "Nice for What" singer has collected a total of 27 Billboard awards.

Picking up the Top Artist award, the most prestigious award of the night, he thanked his mother for her help establishing his career.

"I just want to thank my mom for all the times you drove me to piano when I didn't want to take piano. All the times you drove me to basketball and hockey -- that clearly didn't work out. All the times you drove me to 'Degrassi.' No matter how long it took me to figure out what I wanted to do, you were always there to give me a ride, and now we're on one hell of ride," he said.

Earlier, he mentioned the latest episode of popular HBO show "Game of Thrones," making a stabbing motion with his award and saying, "Shout out to Arya Stark for putting in that work last week."

Singer Mariah Carey took home the Billboard Icon Award and gave an emotional speech thanking her fans.

"To anyone who's ever told me that a song I wrote helped save your life, I thank you, because you saved mine," she said.

South Korean boy band BTS also thanked their fans, many of whom were in attendance at the show, after they won the Top Duo/Group award.

"This was only possible because of the little things we share together - the BTS and army power, right?" BTS member Suga said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Taylor Swift, Brendan Urie open 2019 Billboard Awards

Brendan Urie (left) and Taylor Swift (right) perform “ME” to open the 2019 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on Wednesday. Drake, who won the Billboard Top Artist award made history after winning a total of 12 awards.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Donors flock to blood banks in Vegas after shooting

As more than 500 wounded flooded the hospitals of Las Vegas after the worst mass shooting in modern US history, electronic billboard ads urged people to give blood.

The response from the community has been overwhelming, with long lines of donors snaking out the doors -- sustained with offerings of pizza and cookies.


"Donors came after two in the morning when they received the news. The flow did not stop well until the evening," said Mitzy Edgecomb of United Blood Services, an agency that collects donated blood and supplies it to hospitals.

"Yesterday we collected 700 donations in the Las Vegas area. Well over 1,000 people attempted to donate. We are seeing numbers not seen in a very long time," Edgecomb said outside a blood drive center in suburban Las Vegas.

Tuesday morning, when the doors opened at 9:00 am, more than 100 people were waiting outside to give blood, and in the afternoon a dozen were still waiting.

A Salvation Army truck handed out free slices of pizza.

People not even wishing to donate showed up with water and homemade cookies.

"Anything like this brings a community together. People are good at heart and they want to do something to help at the time when they are slightly helpless," said Edgecomb.

She said she expects the flow to keep up through the weekend.

"We've met the needs at the hospitals where some of the victims were transported. We are replenishing that supply and preparing for the days and weeks ahead," she said.

'We love you'

At one blood drive center, Dianne Spence, 70, lay down on a cot next to her husband Richard.

She squeezes a rubber ball as a nurse inserts a needle into her arm. She is from Georgia and has lived in Las Vegas for 27 years.

She is a regular blood donor and already had an appointment for Tuesday, even before Sunday's carnage by a retired accountant named Stephen Paddock. He killed 58 people and himself, and wounded 527.

Spence kept her appointment "because it is a critical time and people need it."

She said she was proud of the way the people of Las Vegas are responding to this crisis.

"Hate is just a sad symptom of fear. People are in a very rough place today," she said. "I grew up in the south and we have a lot of hate. It's just sad, really sad."

One cot further over, Sammy Rangel is talking to the nurses.

He is wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Las Vegas, We Love You" that does not quite hide all the tatoos on his body.

Rangel used to be the leader of a white supremacist gang in Chicago and spend 18 years in prison.

Then he founded an association called Life after Hate, which brings people like him together for social rehabilitation programs.

The motives of the shooter in Las Vegas are still not known.

Rangel said he is here to "counter the message of hate with love and compassion." And blood donations.

"This is where acts of hate and terror lose, because they're not designed to bring communities together and yet it seems that when these things happen, communities come together," said Rangel.

"It's counter-intuitive to what they're trying to accomplish, right?"

Douglas Fraser, a surgeon at University Medical Center, said he saw more than 100 patients come in after the shooting, including 20 in critical condition.

He said his people are trying to help both physical and psychological injuries, and the latter take longer to heal.

"The emotional strain is probably the highest right now," he said. "Right now we are just trying to help each other and the patients kind of get right through this."

"Some of these wounds will heal physically but the mental aftermath is going to be for some time," he said, adding victims' families members of would also have to deal with the trauma of mass shooting.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Automatic weapons may have been used in Las Vegas massacre

The gunman who fired on Las Vegas concertgoers from more than 1,000 feet away on Sunday may have used fully automatic weapons - or guns legally modified to act like them - that allowed him to shoot a hail of bullets into the crowd of 22,000 people.

A U.S. law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters authorities believe 64-year-old Stephen Paddock had at least two such weapons when he fired from his 32nd-floor hotel room, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 500.

The rat-a-tat sound of the Las Vegas shooter's gunfire prompted police at the scene to report the gunman was using an "automatic" weapon - a term often used to describe a fully automatic gun that can fire as many rounds as its magazine, drum or belt holds by pulling and holding the trigger.

Those weapons have been largely outlawed for three decades, though Paddock could also have used legal or illegal means to alter semi-automatic rifles, which fire a round every time the trigger is pulled.

"From the audio, that is not someone who has a traditional semi-automatic rifle firing it in its normal condition," said David Chipman, a former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent who advises the gun control group Americans for Responsible Solutions. "Either it's a machine gun or it's been modified. I don't believe a human can do that with his finger."

Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said investigators found 16 weapons in Paddock's suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He added that officials believe at least some of the guns were modified, possibly to allow for more rapid fire.

It was not clear when or how Paddock obtained the weapons. Chris Sullivan, owner of the Guns & Guitars shop near Paddock's home in Mesquite, Nevada, confirmed Paddock had legally purchased firearms from the store but did not offer more detail.

In 1986, Congress barred civilians from buying or selling fully automatic weapons made after that date, though individuals can legally possess older weapons after passing a background check and obtaining a special permit.

There are about 176,000 pre-1986 machine guns registered with the U.S. government that can be legally transferred, and they typically cost tens of thousands of dollars.

But there are also less expensive legal products that can allow semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15, which are much more widely available, to fire hundreds of rounds per minute.

A "bump stock," for example, replaces a semi-automatic rifle's stock, which rests against the shoulder to provide stability and absorb recoil.

The bump stock causes the gun's recoil to press against the shooter's finger after each shot, firing rounds much more quickly than possible by pulling it manually.

The website for one such product, Slide Fire, shows several videos in which shooters launch multiple rounds per second in bursts that sound almost indistinguishable from automatic fire. Reviewers have reported that the product permits a shooter to go through hundreds of rounds every minute.

The company did not return requests for comment.

'SOUPED-UP SEMI'?

Such devices are not outlawed because the trigger is still pulled for each round, even though the rate is faster than possible using only one's finger.

"There's very little difference between a souped-up semi automatic and a fully automatic," said Mike McLively, a policy expert with Americans for Responsible Solutions.

Paddock could also have illegally converted semi-automatic rifles into fully automatic guns, a process made easier by the presence of guides uploaded to the internet.

Nevada law lets residents own machine guns, if they are permitted under federal law. The state does not require licenses, registration or a waiting period for firearms, including semi-automatic rifles.

Sunday's shooting prompted renewed calls from Democrats for tighter gun laws, though it is unlikely the Republican-controlled Congress will take up such measures.

Shares in gunmakers American Outdoor Brands and Sturm, Ruger & Co rose 3.21 percent and 3.48 percent, respectively, on Monday. Gun stocks often spike following mass shootings on fears of stricter gun control.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Secret Service says no weapon was found in Trump incident

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Secret Service said on Saturday night an incident at a campaign event for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Reno, Nevada, began when someone shouted "gun" but no weapon was found.

"Immediately in front of the stage, an unidentified individual shouted 'gun.' Secret Service agents and Reno Police Officers immediately apprehended the subject. Upon a thorough search of the subject and the surrounding area, no weapon was found," the Secret Service said in a statement.

"A thorough investigation is ongoing at this time by the U.S. Secret Service and the Reno Police Department," it said.

Trump was rushed off stage by security agents at a rally in Reno, Nevada, on Saturday night after a perceived security threat as he and Democrat Hillary Clinton swept across states that could prove decisive in Tuesday's presidential election.

The threat was unclear. Two security agents seized Trump by the shoulders and hustled him backstage as police officers swarmed over a white male in the front of the crowd and held him face down on the ground while they searched him.

Moments later, the man was escorted by police away with his hands behind his back. Trump, seemingly unruffled, returned to the stage and continued his campaign speech.

"Nobody said it was going to be easy for us," he said. "But we will never be stopped."

The incident began when Trump noticed what he considered a heckler, saying it was someone "from the Hillary Clinton campaign." A few seconds later people near the stage began pointing at someone in the crowd near the front.

Then agents took Trump away. A CNN reporter at the event who spoke to witnesses to the incident said no one saw a weapon.

In a statement, Trump thanked the Secret Service, Reno and Nevada law enforcement for "their fast and professional response."

The incident occurred as Clinton and Trump make their closing arguments to American voters, crisscrossing the United States in hopes of winning over last-minute undecided voters and rallying their bases to turn out enthusiastically on Election Day.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinoys in Nevada laud Clinton's plans for higher education

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - If she becomes president, Hillary Clinton promises to make education affordable for millions of Americans.

Under Clinton’s plan, families with income up to $125,000 a year will pay no tuition at in-state four-year public colleges and universities by 2021.

This benefit immediately applies to families making $85,000 or less a year. All community colleges will also offer free tuition.

The situation in the Silver State is pretty dire when it comes to education.

The outstanding federal student loan debt among Nevadans now exceeds six billion. About one in every two Nevadan graduates of four-year colleges is in debt, with an average balance of a little over $20,000.

Filipino parents like Ramil Mactal are hoping for relief to come soon.

“If it helps even in one family, it’s worth it. I mean, I’m sure it’s gonna help a lot of people and, you know, those people that needed it, it’s good for them,” he said.

College student Lynette Hull says Clinton’s plan will help many struggling immigrant families.

“It’s gonna help my family and a lot of Pacific Islander families across the state and really just minorities in general. Like, particularly my family, we would save $26 thousand with her new plan. That’s a lot of money that could go to my future like law school and all that kinds of stuff,” she said.

Clinton’s plan would also allow borrowers to refinance loans at current rates, benefiting about 25 million people.

The Democratic presidential candidate also intends to take immediate executive action to offer a three-month moratorium on student loan payments to all federal loan borrowers.

This would allow borrowers to consolidate their loans and avail of repayment plans to reduce their monthly interest payment and fees.

“Our students deserve every kind of help that they could get to get the education that is needed and I’m all for it. said Rozita Lee, a community leader.

"It would definitely help that’s why I wanna be sure that we know when and where to apply for it so that we can get our Asian-American and Pacific Islander students to be there to apply,” she added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Madonna, Kesha, Dion rule the stage at emotional Billboard Awards

Madonna paid tribute to Prince, Kesha earned a standing ovation for her stirring rendition of "It Ain't Me, Babe" honoring Bob Dylan, and Celine Dion dedicated her Icon award to her late husband at Sunday night's emotion-packed Billboard Music Awards.

The three-hour live telecast from Las Vegas stuck to its tradition of a performance-heavy annual show featuring top recording stars in spectacular production numbers.

Britney Spears kicked things off, dazzling in a daring red outfit for a medley of her hits.

Canadian singer The Weeknd dedicated the first award to Prince, the Grammy-winning pop superstar best known for such hits as "Purple Rain" and "Let's Go Crazy," who died at his Minnesota home in April aged 57.

"I want to dedicate this award to the late great Prince," The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye), said in accepting the Top Hot 100 Artist award.

Madonna ended the show with a Prince tribute that included "Nothing Compares 2 U," before she was joined by Stevie Wonder for "Purple Rain" as the audience rose to its feet, arms gently swaying above their heads and singing along.

Earlier, Kesha delivered an emotional rendition of Dylan's classic in a much-anticipated performance that was nearly canceled by her label in a legal dispute.

Kemosabe Records relented, saying Kesha had assured them she would not use her time as a platform to address her failed legal bid against Sony Corp's Sony Music and producer Dr. Luke. Kemosabe, founded by Dr. Luke, is a unit of Sony Music. The singer stood by her word.

While several awards were handed out during the show, including to British singer Adele who won the big prize, top artist and accepted via a video segment, it was performances by the likes of Ariana Grande, Dion, and Rihanna that ruled.

Dion, making her first televised singing performance since the death of her husband, Rene Angelil, tearfully accepted the Icon Award for lifetime achievement, which in a surprise was presented by her son, Rene-Charles.

"I'm so sorry, I don't want to cry in front of you," Dion told the audience. She ended by holding her award aloft and declaring, "Rene, this one's for you, the show must go on," echoing the title of the Queen song she had just performed.

Other top prizes went to Rihanna in the fan-voted chart achievement award, Justin Bieber for top male artist, Adele for both top female artist and Billboard 200 album, and The Weeknd for R & B song "The Hills." (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb and Chris Michaud; Editing by Chris Reese, Robert Birsel and Paul Tait)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Where to Find Foreclosures

When the housing bubble burst in 2007 and more than six million families lost their homes, the pain was greatest in markets where lax lending standards (which have since been outlawed) were the most widespread. Florida, Nevada, Arizona, and California—the so-called “sand states”—led the nation in foreclosures.

What has changed since then?

Today, the foreclosure picture has changed dramatically. Last year’s number of 1.1 million foreclosure filings was the lowest annual total since 2006, the year the housing bubble began to burst.[1] The number of completed foreclosures in January 2016 was down 67.6 percent from the peak of 117,743 in September 2010.[2]

The geography of foreclosures also has changed. Today, Florida and California remain in the top five states for foreclosures. The five states with the highest number of completed foreclosures for the 12 months ending in January 2016 were:

1. Florida (74,000)
2. Michigan (49,000)
3. Texas (29,000)
4. California (25,000)
5. Ohio (24,000)
6.  

These five states accounted for almost half of all completed foreclosures nationally.

“In 2015 we saw a return to normal, healthy foreclosure activity in many markets even as banks continued to clean up some of the last vestiges of distress left over from the last housing crisis,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “The increase in bank repossessions that we saw for the year was evidence of this cleanup phase, which largely involves completing foreclosure on highly distressed, low-value properties.[3]

“Meanwhile, local economic problems became a larger driver of foreclosure activity in 2015,” Blomquist said. “Examples of this are Atlantic City, New Jersey, which posted the nation’s highest metro foreclosure rate for the year, along with several heavy oil-producing markets in Texas and Oklahoma where foreclosure activity increased in 2015, counter to the national trend.”

Foreclosure rates are on the rise in other areas

In 24 states and the District of Columbia—many of which missed the massive defaults seven years ago—there was an increase in foreclosure activity in 2015 compared to 2014. These included Northeastern states like Massachusetts (up 55 percent) and New York (up 24 percent), where home price increases have lagged and states suffering from the downturn in oil prices like Oklahoma (up 36 percent),) and Texas (up 16 percent). States with the highest foreclosure rates in 2015 were New Jersey (1.91 percent of housing units with a foreclosure filing), Florida (1.77 percent), Maryland (1.60 percent), Nevada (1.40 percent), and Illinois (1.26 percent). 

 

Among the nation’s 20 largest metro areas, six posted year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity in 2015: Boston (up 44 percent, St. Louis (up 38 percent), Dallas (up 25 percent), Detroit (up 22 percent), New York (up 9 percent), and Houston (up less than 1 percent).[4]

Metro areas with the highest foreclosure rates in 2015 were Atlantic City, New Jersey (3.43 percent of housing units with a foreclosure filing); Trenton, New Jersey (2.14 percent); Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida (2.03 percent); Jacksonville, Florida (2.02 percent); and Miami (1.98 percent).

What does this mean for you?

If you’re considering an investment in a foreclosure, you may no longer be limited to searching in areas that were hardest hit by the housing crisis. That may mean that you find a greater variety of foreclosures in more popular neighborhoods.

It may also, however, mean more competition. And when the process of buying a foreclosure is already so complex, more competition isn’t exactly welcome.

source: totalmortgage.com

Clinton wins in Nevada, Trump seeks S.Carolina victory

COLUMBIA - Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders in Nevada's Democratic caucuses on Saturday, breathing life into her sluggish campaign, as Republican frontrunner Donald Trump looked for a big win in South Carolina.

The two main US political parties parted ways for the third stage of the surprise-filled race for the White House, with the Democrats heading west and the Republicans campaigning in the south.

In Nevada, CNN, Fox News and NBC News called the contest for the former secretary of state. With more than 80 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton was at 52.1 percent to 47.8 percent for Sanders.

"This is your campaign, and it is a campaign to break down every barrier that holds you back," Clinton said in her victory speech at her Caesars Palace headquarters on the Las Vegas Strip.

"Americans are right to be angry. But we're also hungry for real solutions."

Sanders congratulated Clinton, but also said he was proud of having significantly narrowed the gap.

"We have the wind at our back as we head toward Super Tuesday," the 74-year-old Sanders said, looking ahead to the major March 1 showdown when about a dozen states will go to the polls to choose their White House candidates.

Voters meanwhile streamed to the polls in South Carolina, in what could be an important test of strength for the 69-year-old frontrunner Trump. Voting places were to close at 7:00 pm (0000 GMT Sunday).

- Clinton bets on immigration -
In the desert state of Nevada, both Clinton and Sanders worked hard to reach out to African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans, who make up roughly half of the state's population.

Clinton, who won by a hair in Iowa but was crushed by Sanders in New Hampshire, had counted on a major Hispanic voter turnout, especially among Las Vegas hotel and casino employees.

But according to CNN entrance polls, while she handily won the black vote, but did not convince Latinos to join her camp, losing that key demographic to Sanders by 53 percent to 45 percent-- evidence that his campaign may have much longer legs than first expected.

Clinton did well with women, but was stomped once again by Sanders with young voters, the polls showed.

The former top US diplomat needed a win in Nevada, a state once seen as a relatively easy victory for her -- but one where Sanders gathered steam after trouncing Clinton in New Hampshire on February 9.

Clinton won their first showdown in Iowa on February 1, but only by a razor-thin margin.

The 68-year-old Clinton worked hard to win votes from hotel and casino employees, making multiple stops on the Strip since Wednesday.

Clinton claims that Sanders is offering impractical, pie-in-the-sky ideas that he cannot bring to fruition as president, and on Saturday took aim at corporate America -- usually a message sounded by Sanders.

"If you cheat your employees, exploit consumers, pollute our environment, or rip off taxpayers, we're going to hold you accountable," she said.

"But if you do the right things, if you invest in your workers, contribute to your communities, help build a better America -- we're going to stand with you."

- Crunch time for Trump -
In South Carolina, pre-vote polls showed the billionaire businessman Trump with a lead over his five Republican rivals, although his advantage had shrunk in one poll in the lead-up to Saturday's primary in the Palmetto State.

Lynn Derrick, a regional vice president for Oracle Corporation and a first-time primary voter, said he had cast his ballot for Trump.

"We just think we want to take a risk with Trump. We think he's had success with everything he's touched," Derrick told AFP at a high school in the state capital Columbia.

Trump is banking on a big symbolic win ahead of "Super Tuesday", when about a quarter of the nominating delegates are up for grabs.

"It's crunch time, folks," Trump told voters at a North Charleston rally, his final pitch Friday before the primary.

He finished second to Texas Senator Ted Cruz in Iowa, but secured a commanding win in New Hampshire. The two have duked it out in the past week, with the campaign growing increasingly nasty.

On the eve of the primary, Trump led with about 28 percent of likely Republicans voters backing him, according to an NBC-Wall Street Journal poll.

The ultra-conservative Cruz followed with 23 percent. Trailing were Senator Marco Rubio at 15 percent and former Florida governor Jeb Bush at 13 percent.

Rubio and Bush are under pressure to fare well Saturday, as are Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

Edwin Pearlstine, a retired beer distributor and brewery owner who said he voted for Kasich, said if Trump wins the Republican nomination, he'll leave the country.

"I got a pretty place right on the beach in the Bahamas. I'll just go stay there," he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinay found frozen dead in cryotherapy chamber

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – A 24-year-old Filipina was found frozen to death inside a cryotherapy chamber at a clinic in Nevada last week.

Chelsea Ake-Salvacion, the manager of Rejuvenice in Henderson, Nevada, was found dead by her co-workers in one of the salon's cryotherapy chambers.

Born to a Mexican-Hawaiian mother, Salvacion's biological dad is a Filipino living in Hawaii.

"The last person we ever thought that something would happen is Chelsea because she was full of life, so happy, so positive," her uncle, Albert Ake, said in a Skype interview with Balitang America.

Ake-Salvacion worked as a manager at a clinic that offers cryotherapy. It involves exposing the body to negative 240 degree Fahrenheit temperature in a cold chamber.

Used by international celebrities and sports athletes, it is said to relieve pain, accelerate tissue healing, strengthen the immune system, detoxifies, provides instant anti-aging effects, and even burns 500 to 800 calories in one 3-minute session.

Ake-Salvacion's uncle said it was painful to identify his niece's body at the Coroner's Office.

"I was hoping that when I get there, there was a mix-up. There was a wrong person there, it wasn't her. But unfortunately, it was her," he said.

Although the Clark County Coroner's Office has yet to release the official cause of death of Ake-Salvacion, her uncle said the Coroner's Office told him that his niece died within seconds.

"The Coroner Officer on that night, Tuesday night, reassured me that she died instantly. That she died in seconds. That she never suffered," he said.

Although Ake-Salvacion was alone in the cryotherapy clinic, Ake said she is knowledgeable and competent in operating the cryo chamber machine.

"The question is not 'Oh, was she experienced?' Of course she was. She's been with the company since it opened, the first clinic that they had, she's been with them since. She's worked and done that treatment many, many times. Employees are known to do it on their own when they're slow or nothing's going on or after their shift. They go in do a quick treatment," he said.

Joey Aquino, a Pinoy cardiologist of Nevada Heart and Vascular Center, explains the human body's natural reaction.

"I think they only do it for 3 minutes or less because a little more than that hypothermia kicks in and the first things that will happen you go into a panic mode. Your heart rate will increase. Your body will try to get you out of that situation. But after a few more minutes after that, everything tends to shut down," he said.

Ake added that he and his family are patiently waiting for the final pathology report from Chelsea's autopsy.

"She loved the salon. She loved what she was doing. It was just something went wrong and we have to find out what because we don't want any other technician or clients doing this," he said.

In an email sent to Balitang America, the owner of Rejuvenice salon said that everyone in their company is devastated by the accident and that they are scrutinizing each and every of their internal procedures to ensure that this won't happen again.

Read more on Balitang America

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer

Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer

KOCH & BRIM: PERSONAL Care FOR EVERY CLIENT

I will review about Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer is KOCH & BRIM.
There are a lot of law firms in southern Nevada that handle personal injury cases, but very few recommend,you personal attention from your attorney when you contact or visit the law firm. While they have a top staff, Mr. Brim or Mr. Koch will personally meet with you during your consultation and at other times through your case, will plan and direct the handling of your case, will discuss your case with you over the phone when you call, and will personally negotiate your case.
Many law firms assign all or most of these duties to staff members. At our law firm, Mr. Koch or Mr. Brim will do these things. Las Vegas car accident lawyer prefer this approach because it allows to keep in touch with they clients and stay informed throughout the case. In the end, This Las Vegas car accident lawyer are confident that handling your case this way will bring about the best result for you.
Contact · 702-451-3900 · No Recovery, No Fee

At Koch & Brim, They clients are the reason Las Vegas car accident lawyer do personal injury work. Personal injury lawyers William Brim and Richard Koch want to hear your story firsthand. This las Vegas car accident lawyer want to make sure that every negotiation has the benefit of they experience and legal wisdom. When you have been injured, that’s the kind of service you need and deserve.


    A good case evaluation is essential.

They experience, knowledge of medical issues and they focus on working directly with our clients enable to provide accurate case evaluations.

    They eyes are always on the case.

They don’t farm the case out to they staff. Your case will have an attorney who manages all aspects of your case from start to finish.

    You need to know what’s going on and have your questions answered.

This Las Vegas car accident lawyer keep clients informed about progress, and answer your questions when you call .

    They keep case load manageable, so that every case gets the attention it needs.
    Careful case preparation helps work toward fair and timely settlements.
    This Las vegas car accident lawyer handle the full range of personal injury cases, including car and truck accidents, accidents on private property, dog bite attacks and accidents involving construction vehicles.
    They also represent people injured while visiting Las Vegas as well as those who reside in southern Nevada.

Contact· 702-451-3900 · Free Consultation

Koch & Brim represents clients in Las Vegas, Henderson and communities throughout southern Nevada. Contact for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Practice Areas of Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer
Personal injury claims involve all sorts of accidents. At Koch & Brim they have handled these and many other types of personal injury accidents:

    Auto Accidents
    Motorcycle Accidents
    Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists
    Drunk/Impaired Driver Accidents
    Taxi Cab Accidents
    Bicycle Accidents
    Pedestrian Involving Vehicle
    Wrongful Death
    School Injuries
    Parking Lot Accidents
    Private/Gated Community Accidents
    Accidents With Construction Vehicles
    Hit and Run
    Truck Accidents/Commercial Vehicles
    Dog Bites/Dog Attacts

Maybe that’s all the information I can share with you. Hope can help you.

source: lawpersonalinfo.com

Many Fil-Ams still unsure about 'Obamacare'

NEVADA - As the deadline to sign up for Affordable Care Act draws near, many kababayans living in the valley are still longing for answers if this health care is sustainable and will provide long term coverage for years to come.

Obamacare has been the talk of the town for months in Nevada. With President Obama's 'mea-culpa” for the glitch and confusion brought to Americans on healthcare coverage, Nevadans still continue to wonder what Obamacare is really all about and if it will be beneficial for them.

Enrique Jamelo was in the military for five years. Because he voluntarily discharged from the service, he wasn't able to carry over the coverage veterans and military personnel have.

He is back to ground zero in providing healthcare insurance for his family. Although his wife Joan works in a casino, she is still not eligible for insurance coverage as she only works part time.

"Mahirap kasi it's like no security at all lalo na may kids. You have kids na magka-kasakit. Yun yung concern namin. That's why we are asking about those coverage and how much plans," said Joan.

Her husband added, "Kasi hindi mo naman alam kung kelan ka magkakasakit paano kung wala kang insurance magkano ang babayaran mo sa hospital?”

Like many other households, the Jamelos is just one of the many families in Nevada who are longing for affordable healthcare insurance.

White House Commissioner Rozita Villanueva Lee said that the Affordable Care Act had a very slow start due to some technical glitches.

"Nevada ACA is almost the same as national because we had glitches in our computer as well. But we are so glad that Governor [Brian] Sandoval decided to make it as state thing and its really gonna be more helpful to our people," Lee said.

"What our role is to make sure that the Filipinos, our kababayans, know about what's happening because many of them don't know that they can get subsidize as well even though they are not working. They're so afraid to come and sign up. We can also help them out to get good health care,” she said.

Lee added that although security issues are now a concern to many, she assured Nevadans that all information is kept confidential. She is optimistic that technicalities are being fixed and will be running smoothly in the silver state of Nevada.

"Many of them still have a big question mark primarily, and that our role is to help them to understand. How expensive is it? It's the cost. They don't know what the cost is. It's not expensive. It's affordable. That's why we tell them come here. We will put all the information about you and your family in here," Lee said.

Dr. Noel Fajardo of Las Vegas Gastroenterology said that in the medical community, misconceptions by both medical practitioners and patients alike, led to confusion regarding Obamacare coverage.

"People are misinformed and there's a lot of confusion as to when they are going to be eligible for receiving services under the ACA, and whenever they asks us questions we could not give direct answers because it's quite difficult for us to find a resource and this is the same situation when they go to the website and internet. They find a lot of misinformation as well. So I think this is where the government can come in and educate us what this act is all about,” said Dr. Fajardo.

Dr. Fajardo added that a more aggressive educational campaign for the ACA should be given to both medical practitioners and patients to gain a better understanding and awareness.

"We may get some newsletter from insurance companires but not exactly specific guidelines and this is quite frustrating for the patient, and also our practice as well, because there are some inconsistencies on what they tell us and this is something we don't know if it's the act itself or the insurance,” he said.

In a recent meeting, US Majority Floor Leader Senator Harry Reid said that the ACA will be beneficial for uninsured Americans.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Bradley eyes Pacquiao rematch in 2014

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Fight fans gathered at the lobby of the Wynn Hotel & Casino for the grand arrival of Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, the two boxers responsible for the two consecutive losses of Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.

In an exclusive interview, Bradley said he is ready for a rematch with Pacquiao.

“That is definitely a chapter in my life that I definitely have to visit and revisit. I think the fans, everybody around the whole world wants to see that fight and they want to see who the true champion is,” he said.

Bradley showed off his rock-hard abs and muscular arms, saying he attained his muscles while on a three-month vegan diet.

Marquez and Bradley will slug it out this Saturday for the WBO welterweight championship.

While Bradley is ready to face Pacquiao again, Marquez doesn't want to fight the Filipino for a fifth time, even if it will earn him millions of dollars.

He said his knockout of Pacquiao is priceless, which remains the talk of the town among boxing enthusiasts.

“I don’t have reasons for the fifth fight. If I won a close fight or controversial decision maybe I give the fifth fight. I don’t have reasons, I win tremendous knock out and I want to keep this feeling all my life,” said Marquez.

Marquez said he trained heavily for his fight with Bradley, especially since the American boxer has remained undefeated.

“[It was] five months [of training] because if you rest maybe you lose the distance, you lose the ring. I keep training always. Five months for this fight specifically for speed and I feel very happy,” he says.

But Bradley just shrugged off Marquez’s training regimen.

“I been training for about 10 weeks. I haven't heard of any other fighter in the world training for five months especially at 40 years old. I don’t know why you need to train that long. I think its unheard of five months for a fight? I think it’s a joke,” Bradley said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Nevada back in the hole of foreclosures

LAS VEGAS - Signs of "foreclosure" and "owned by bank" are still common throughout Sin City, and some parts of Nevada, as the silver state is once again taking the lead as the nation's highest in foreclosures.

Realtytrac.com, a website of foreclosure listings, reports that the state of Nevada has an average foreclosure rate of 28 percent that is higher than the national average of 1 percent. The unemployment rate is at 9.9 percent.

The website added, "the national median sales price in August was $175,000, up 3 percent from the previous month and up 6 percent from a year ago — the 17th consecutive month where median home prices have increased annually nationwide".

Las Vegas ranked the third highest in foreclosure rates among metropolitan areas with one filing for every 323 units.

Now, the Nevada housing market credits the new law, SB-321, that will take effect this coming October, for becoming the doorway that leads to dry land for homeowners who have been underwater.

A Filipino, who did not want to be identified, said that the new law should have taken effect at the time they were facing foreclosure three years ago as they too became a victim of the mortgage meltdown.

"I wish they have all these laws during the time I was facing foreclosure. I could've saved my house. During that time, I tried to refinance but they won't let me," the kababayan said.

Realty experts said that this new law will further constraint the current low home inventory while putting more pressure on prices.

"In a nutshell, the banks are basically required to offer the homeowners, our kababayan na having trouble, alternative than foreclosures. SB-321 is basically a carbon copy of the Homeowners Bill of Rights that took effect in California," said Ernest "Che" Bendicion, a realty estate broker.

Bendicion added that kababayans who are facing foreclosures must face their lenders for alternative solutions.

"Another thing that is important on this bill is what they call dual tracking. The banks and the lenders will have to act in good faith and deal with you. If you are doing a loan modification, they cannot foreclose on you until the loan modification process is done. If you are doing a short sale they cannot foreclose on you. They need to work with you in short selling your home. Many times kasi, ang nangyayari, while you are doing your short sale, your loan modification, the banks foreclosure department are still trying to foreclose on you. This is really a big relief in this law," he said.

While many homeowners are anticipating for this week's announcement of the introduction of SB-321, everyone who is under pressure can now weigh in on exploring their options in saving their home.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Home Foreclosures Fall to Lowest Level in Nearly 8 Years

LOS ANGELES -- Fewer U.S. homes entered the foreclosure process or were repossessed by banks in June, the latest sign that the nation is shaking off its housing bust hangover.

Lenders initiated the foreclosure process on 57,286 homes last month, the lowest level for any month in 7½ years, foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday.

Foreclosure starts are on pace to reach roughly 800,000 this year, down from 1.1 million last year, the firm said.

Completed foreclosures, when the lender repossesses a home, are on track to hit a half-million, or about a quarter below last year's total.

The trend comes as the U.S. housing recovery continues to gain strength, propelled by steady job gains, low interest rates, improving consumer confidence and growing demand for homes at a time when there's a thin supply of available homes for sale in many markets.

That's helped boost home prices, which jumped 12.2 percent in May from a year earlier -- the biggest gain in seven years, according to data provider CoreLogic.

Even so, foreclosures remain a potential drag on housing in many states, including Florida, Nevada, Illinois and Ohio.

"Halfway through 2013, it is becoming increasingly evident that while foreclosures are no longer a national problem, they continue to be a state and local market problem," said Daren Blomquist, a vice president at RealtyTrac.

Homes scheduled for auction in states like Florida, where the courts play a role in the foreclosure process, were up 34 percent in June from a year earlier, the firm said.

Scheduled home auctions doubled last month in New Jersey and Florida, which also posted the highest foreclosure rate of any state -- nearly three times the national average -- in the first six months of the year, the firm said.

Most homes lined up for public auction typically end up going back to lenders, which opens the door for the properties to be placed on the market as sharply discounted foreclosed homes later this year or in 2013.

Nationally, the inventory of previously occupied homes on the market was 10 percent below prior-year levels in May, according to the National Association of Realtors. So the potential for more foreclosures going on sale will likely be welcome news to would-be homebuyers in markets where there is a tight supply of available homes.

The number of homes that entered the foreclosure process in June was down 21 percent from May and about 45 percent below June 2012's total.

Lenders repossessed 35,507 homes last month, down nearly 9 percent from May and a drop of 35 percent from a year earlier. That's still short of the 25,000 or so a month that Blomquist considers the benchmark for foreclosures in a "normal" housing market.

At the height of the housing boom in 2006, completed foreclosures averaged 22,000 a month. They peaked in September 2010 at 102,000. Tighter lending standards for home loans since the housing bubble burst have helped slow the pace of foreclosures.

About 75 percent of the 824,292 U.S. homes in the foreclosure process as of June are tied to loans that were originated between 2004 and 2008.

"That's a good sign that the lending has much improved and we're not seeing high foreclosure rates on mortgages that have been taken out since 2008," Blomquist said.

source: dailyfinance.com