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Lifestyle
'People's Choice:' Baby Hippo That Took Social Media By Storm Gets Name After Heated Vote 'People's Choice:' Baby Hippo That Took Social Media By Storm Gets Name After Heated Vote
'People's Choice:' Baby Hippo That Took Social Media By Storm Gets Name After Heated Vote What's in a name?  After a spirited global contest, the people have spoken: Richmond Metro Zoo’s baby pygmy hippo now has a fitting moniker. Poppy. The newborn entered the world on Monday, Dec. 9, and has quickly captivated local residents and animal lovers alike, taking off on social media after being transferred to the zoo family on Christmas Eve. Hippo hooray and Merry Christmas Eve! We’re thrilled to welcome a precious baby pygmy hippo to the zoo family - just in... Posted by Metro Richmond Zoo on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 More than 116,000 votes from 165 countries narr…

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by Zak Failla
News
Livvy Dunne, Pittsburgh Pirates’ Skenes, Chandler At New Orleans Bar Before Attack Killed 15 Livvy Dunne, Pittsburgh Pirates’ Skenes, Chandler At New Orleans Bar Before Attack Killed 15
Livvy Dunne, Pittsburgh Pirates’ Skenes, Chandler At New Orleans Bar Before Attack Killed 15 LSU gymnast and social media influencer Livvy Dunne, along with her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, and Pirates Pitcher Bubba Chandler were in New Orleans hours before the deadly pickup truck attack that killed 15 people early Wednesday, Jan. 1. Dunne, a native of Bergen County, New Jersey, shared photos on social media of herself, Skenes, and Chandler enjoying the New Orleans nightlife. In one image, the group is seen inside a bar, smiling and seemingly enjoying their evening. Shortly after, Dunne posted another photo of New Orleans with a broken heart emoji, indicating h…

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by Jillian Pikora
Sports
Maryland ESPN Legend Van Pelt Goes Head-To-Head With Dave Portnoy Over Hairline Roast Maryland ESPN Legend Van Pelt Goes Head-To-Head With Dave Portnoy Over Hairline Roast
Maryland ESPN Legend Van Pelt Goes Head-To-Head With Dave Portnoy Over Hairline Roast ESPN legend Scott Van Pelt wasn’t about to let Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy get a head start on mocking a college athlete’s hairline. During the Pittsburgh Panthers’ Thursday, Dec. 26 game against the Toledo Rockets, Portnoy zeroed in on offensive lineman Ryan Baer’s thinning locks after a grueling six-overtime showdown.  “This 6OT game just blessed us with this hairline,” Portnoy said of the 22-year-old athlete. “How old are college kids again?” The viral tweet racked up 9.6 million views, but Brookeville, MD's Van Pelt—who has embraced his own baldness with pride—wasn’t here for…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
This Trendy Treat Is Rolling Into Spotlight As Sweet Complement To Christmas Cookies This Trendy Treat Is Rolling Into Spotlight As Sweet Complement To Christmas Cookies
This Trendy Treat Is Rolling Into Spotlight As Sweet Complement To Christmas Cookies Move over gingerbread and sugar cookies — sesame balls are quietly making their way onto holiday dessert tables this year.  Traditionally found in Chinese, Vietnamese, and other Asian cuisines, these golden, chewy orbs are earning a buzzworthy reputation as a standout complement to classic Christmas sweets. Known as Jian Dui in Chinese cuisine and Bánh Cam in Vietnamese culture, sesame balls are made from glutinous rice flour, stuffed with sweet fillings like red bean or lotus paste, and fried to perfection.  The result? A crispy exterior coated in toasted sesame seeds, with a sa…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Twice-Convicted Sex Offender From Maryland Gets Life For Exploiting 16 Children: Feds Twice-Convicted Sex Offender From Maryland Gets Life For Exploiting 16 Children: Feds
Twice-Convicted Sex Offender From Maryland Gets Life For Exploiting 16 Children: Feds A twice-convicted sex offender in Maryland who sexually abused more than a dozen minors is set to spend the rest of his life in prison, federal authorities announced on Wednesday. Gary Rocky Jones, 43, of Baltimore, was sentenced by a judge to life in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for the sexual exploitation of 16 minors.  According to prosecutors, two times between 2014 and 2015, Jones produced images and videos of a young boy - who was between the ages of 14 and 15 at the time - to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, as detail…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly Elected To Be Top House Oversight Dem; Vows For 'Trench Warfare' Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly Elected To Be Top House Oversight Dem; Vows For 'Trench Warfare'
Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly Elected To Be Top House Oversight Dem; Vows For 'Trench Warfare' A Virginia lawmaker has been tabbed for an important and influential position as the country prepares for a seismic shift in the White House. Democrat Gerry Connolly, now 74, who represents Virginia's 11th District, was selected to be the top member of the House Oversight Committee over controversial New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who had been pushing for the position and a change of the guard. Connolly easily earned the nomination by nearly 50 votes. "I thank my colleagues for their support and the confidence they've placed in me to lead House Democrats on the Oversight Comm…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
New Alert Issued For Shooter Still On The Loose After Allegedly Killing Ex In Baltimore County New Alert Issued For Shooter Still On The Loose After Allegedly Killing Ex In Baltimore County
New Alert Issued For Shooter Still On The Loose After Allegedly Killing Ex In Baltimore County Recognize him?  The Baltimore County Police Department issued a fresh alert on Monday afternoon as they seek the public's assistance in locating a man wanted for a fatal shooting of a 27-year-old woman earlier this year. Amir Johnson, 24, is wanted in connection to the midday assault of Shakeia Allen earlier this year in Parkville. National Gun Violence Memorial via Baltimore County Police Department Police say that at approximately 3 p.m. on Sunday April 21, officers responded to the unit block of Whitelaw Place to investigate a homicide involving Johnson and Allen, who was fo…

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by Zak Failla
News
CEO Murder: UnitedHealthcare Parent Company Chief Calls For Change CEO Murder: UnitedHealthcare Parent Company Chief Calls For Change
CEO Murder: UnitedHealthcare Parent Company Chief Calls For Change The head of UnitedHealth Group is calling for change in the healthcare industry after the targeted killing of the CEO of one of its two subsidiaries. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down outside the Midtown Hilton Hotel in Manhattan at around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. On Monday, Dec. 9, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the case. At the time of his arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Mangione was found to be in possession of a three-page manifesto critical of healthcare companies. He condemned UnitedHealthcare's increasing ma…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
CEO Murder: Whiz Kid Suspect May Have Spiraled After Traumatic Back Surgery CEO Murder: Whiz Kid Suspect May Have Spiraled After Traumatic Back Surgery
CEO Murder: Whiz Kid Suspect May Have Spiraled After Traumatic Back Surgery Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the whiz kid Ivy League-educated high school valedictorian accused of the execution-style murder of the CEO of one of the nation's largest healthcare providers, may have spiraled out of control after traumatic back surgery. Click here for a new, updated story - CEO Murder: How A Hash Brown At McDonald's Ended Manhunt For Luigi Mangione The procedure, which allegedly left Mangione in significant physical and emotional distress, may have contributed to his deteriorating mental state, a factor authorities are considering as part of their investigation. …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Luigi Mangione Mugshot Released: Details Shared In Rookie Cop's Big PA McDonald's Arrest Luigi Mangione Mugshot Released: Details Shared In Rookie Cop's Big PA McDonald's Arrest
Luigi Mangione Mugshot Released: Details Shared In Rookie Cop's Big PA McDonald's Arrest Luigi Mangione's mugshot has been released, as have new details in the arrest of the 26-year-old former UPenn student who police say is a prime suspect in the murder of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. 📸BREAKING: Luigi Mangione’s mug shot, per Altoona Police Department. pic.twitter.com/Vf1I2KKbRp — Amanda Head (@AmandaHead) December 9, 2024 PA Gov. Josh Shapiro says that 26-year-old Mangione had a ghost gun, a weapon assembled from untraceable parts, matching the firearm used in Thompson’s murder was recovered during his detention, PA Gov. Josh Shapiro and other law enforcemen…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Who Is Luigi Mangione? Maryland Internet Heartthrob Person Of Interest In CEO Murder Who Is Luigi Mangione? Maryland Internet Heartthrob Person Of Interest In CEO Murder
Who Is Luigi Mangione? Maryland Internet Heartthrob Person Of Interest In CEO Murder After a week of speculation and viral memes on social media, authorities have identified a person of interest in the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny announced Monday, Dec. 9, that 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who has ties to Maryland, is considered a suspect in the murder. He was eating at a McDonald's in Altoona, PA when an employee recognized him and called local police, Kenny said (scroll down for more on Mangione's apprehension). Mangione's Facebook page shows that he is from Towson, MD and studied at the University of Pennsylvania. His…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
McComeback! Elusive Snack Wrap Returning To McDonald's Menu After Nearly Decade McComeback! Elusive Snack Wrap Returning To McDonald's Menu After Nearly Decade
McComeback! Elusive Snack Wrap Returning To McDonald's Menu After Nearly Decade Get your dipping sauces ready. McDonald’s is bringing back its elusive Snack Wrap nearly a decade after the cult-favorite menu item flew the coop. “The Snack Wrap will be back in 2025,” McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger teased during an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday, Dec. 5. “This has a cult following," he added. "I get so many emails into my inbox about this product.” When pressed for an exact date by host George Stephanopoulos, Erlinger opted to keep things under wraps, citing “competitive reasons.” The original Snack Wrap debuted in 2006, featuring a tender p…

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by Michael Mashburn