The Latest: 1 dead in submerged car in Victorville

Feb 18, 2017

Authorities in San Bernardino County say a motorist has been found dead after a car was submerged on a flooded desert road in Victorville

LOS ANGELES — The Latest on California storms (all times local):

7:40 p.m.

Authorities in San Bernardino County say a motorist has been found dead after a car was submerged on a flooded desert road in Victorville.

Fire Department spokesman Eric Sherwin says another person was rescued by helicopter from the roof of a car that was swept downstream during the fierce storm.

It's the second confirmed storm-related death from the powerful storm that has lashed Central and Southern California Friday.

Earlier, a 55-year-old man was electrocuted in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles when a fallen tree downed power lines and fell on a car.

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5 p.m.

Los Angeles fire officials say one person has been electrocuted after a tree downed power lines and fell on a car.

The tree went down around noon Friday in Sherman Oaks as a powerful storm lashed the region.

Authorities say a 55-year-old man may have touched the line or contacted electrified water. He died at a hospital.

Fire officials say there have been nearly 150 reports of downed electrical lines in the past several hours.

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3:30 p.m.

The storm that's pounding Central and Southern California already has prompted rescues and injuries from flooding and toppled trees.

Los Angeles firefighters say they used ropes and inflatable boats to rescue seven people and two dogs from the Sepulveda basin area of the Los Angeles River, including one with non-life threatening injuries.

Meanwhile, a 75-foot tree fell onto an apartment building near UCLA, narrowly missing someone who was in bed. Authorities say four of the six apartments have been declared unsafe to enter, and 16 college students have been evacuated.

Another tree brought down power lines as it fell on a car, leaving one person hospitalized in serious condition with possible electric shock.

Authorities say hundreds of trees and power lines have been downed.

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1:30 p.m.

A major Pacific storm has unleashed downpours and fierce gusts on Southern California, triggering flash flood warnings and other problems.

Rain and wind wiped out play Friday in golf's Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, where a eucalyptus tree cracked beyond the 14th tree.

The Los Angeles Fire Department says another tree brought down power lines as it fell on a car, and a person was hospitalized for possible electric shock.

Another tree smashed a carport and vehicles in the Santa Barbara suburb of Goleta.

The Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in Orange County closed due to the weather.

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11:30 a.m.

Southern California authorities have urged more residents to leave areas northwest of Los Angeles that could be endangered by a powerful storm.

Wind-driven rain has been falling since early Friday on coastal counties northwest of Los Angeles and is expected to spread across the metropolitan region through the day.

The Ventura County Office of Emergency Services urged a voluntary evacuation of some homes in Camarillo (kam-uh-ree-oh) Springs, where past storms unleashed mudflows from hills scarred by a wildfire several years ago.

Up the coast, authorities asked residents to leave areas around an 11½-square-mile burn scar on coastal slopes west of Santa Barbara.

Numerous flights have been delayed or canceled at California airports.

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8:55 a.m.

A storm in the San Francisco Bay Area has delayed dozens of flights at San Francisco International Airport.

A powerful storm is beginning to move into California as the saturated state faces a new round of wet weather that could trigger flooding and debris flows around the northern region.

The brunt of the storm is expected to affect Southern California starting around midday Friday and into Saturday.

Forecasters say rain will also spread into Central California and up to the San Francisco Bay Area.

But the National Weather Service says only scattered light showers are occurring in the region north of Sacramento, where the damaged Oroville Dam continues to release water in advance of new storms.

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7:45 a.m.

A powerful storm is beginning to move into California as the saturated state faces a new round of wet weather that could trigger flooding and debris flows.

The brunt of the storm is expected to affect Southern California starting around midday Friday and into Saturday.

The foothill city of Duarte east of Los Angeles has ordered a precautionary evacuation of some homes, and the Santa Anita race track has canceled horse racing for the day.

Forecasters say rain will also spread into Central California and up to the San Francisco Bay Area.

The far northern end of the state will not see significant precipitation from the storm, however.

The National Weather Service says only scattered light showers are occurring in the region north of Sacramento, where the damaged Oroville Dam continues to release water in advance of new storms.

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What to consider if a company that made AI-related job cuts wants you back

Oct 30, 2026

What to consider if a company that made AI-related job cuts wants you back

NEW YORK — Companies around the world are increasingly citing artificial intelligence when slashing jobs, fueling anxiety that a lot more workers may lose their livelihoods to machines. Microsoft, Barclays Bank and supermarket chain Kroger are among the latest entries on a growing list of companies that have announced AI-related workforce reductions this year, including the elimination of jobs deemed redundant or shed to free up money for investing in the technology. But the job cuts of the AI era, which are affecting tens of thousands of people, occasionally have an epilogue. Some companies, after discovering that AI models, applications and agents don't perform as well as expected, end up rehiring laid-off workers to fill eliminated positions. It's unclear how common such reversals are, but they are happening often enough to acquire a nickname: the "AI boomerang." "Two years ago, we said, 'Would this happen?' and now we're saying, 'Yes, it is happening in real time,'" said Lucy Beaumont, a global senior vice president at SHL, a U.K.-based technology company that develops employment-related tests and tools. Hiring managers in fields including finance, marketing, law and health reported earlier this year that their companies had eliminated positions primarily because of AI or automation, only to hire again for the same or similar roles, according to recruitment and staffing firm Robert Half. The most frequently cited reasons for restoring dropped jobs included the technology needing more human oversight than anticipated and its inability to replicate institutional knowledge, the firm said. "When you need critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, institutional knowledge, those are things that AI just can't replicate," Bill Driscoll, a senior district president at Robert Half, said. "And I think that's where companies are starting to realize, 'Wow, we really do need people to do these jobs.'" Klarna, the Swedish provider of buy now, pay later services, began recruiting human customer service representatives again last year. CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski acknowledged in an interview with Bloomberg News that the company's reliance on an AI chatbot to cut costs had gone too far. In June, Ford said it had hired or promoted 350 veteran engineers after AI tools the automaker deployed to do quality control work did not perform at the expected level. "AI utilization has been an important part of our quality gains and that — along with deep technical expertise of our teams — is a powerful combination," a Ford spokesperson told The Associated Press. However, companies don't always broadcast their U-turns on shifting resources or responsibilities from employees to AI systems, Beaumont said. "Maybe their shareholders love that they did this right-sizing motion... and then they have to turn around and quietly, with their tail between their legs, admit that they weren't ready for that or they shouldn't have done that," she said. Management experts offered employment advice for workers as companies make greater use of AI tools and consider — or reconsider — their staffing needs while assessing the technology's capabilities. Rehiring suggests the invisible work of humans is not easily replaced When companies use AI to perform tasks previously done by people, they often miss the invisible work employees do beyond their formal job descriptions, said Betsy Summers, a principal analyst on the Future of Work team at market research and advisory firm Forrester. That might include sensing emotions and moods, holding impromptu meetings and putting in extra effort when feeling inspired or otherwise motivated, Summers said. "We don't know all the work that's required to do things well within the organization," she said. "The citizenship behaviors of team cohesion and team building and making sure that you have trust within your team, none of that is accounted for. So when you rip out humans who are doing that work and then expect agents to be able to then deliver exactly what humans have delivered, they are frequently mistaken." Another factor that complicates assigning more work to AI-powered tools is that company procedures for tasks such as data processing and bookkeeping are not always well documented, experts said. "Organizations are not spending enough time doing the up-front work to really truly understand workflows and where humans add value in the process," said Brooks Holtom, a professor of management at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. In roles such as customer service, AI agents and chatbots frequently need to refer questions and complaints to a worker who can recognize emotions, assess the severity or complexity of a problem and respond creatively within established policies, Holtom said. "It's that combination of creativity but staying in the guardrail that's really hard for a machine to figure out," he said. Figure out what gives you a competitive edge as a human As companies redirect resources toward AI, current employees and those asked to come back might want to emphasize skills that complement the technology, such as emotional intelligence and sound judgment, Holtom said. "Really try to be able to articulate, what's your value proposition as a human?" Holtom said. "Don't be afraid to lean into the technology as well, and understand how to differentiate yourself from what machines do well. Embrace that, understand that, and you can become uniquely qualified to help with implementation." Empathy is a human quality that technology has not fully mastered, Beaumont said. "Think about an angry customer. They want to be listened to, they want to be heard, they really want a human on the other end of the line," Beaumont said. "Can an AI replace that right now in a way that feels meaningful to individuals? Perhaps not." Know your leverage and use caution if you're asked back Many people are understandably reluctant to return to a company that laid them off as part of a reorganization around artificial intelligence, according to Beaumont. "To come back to a business where you've been let go, replaced by AI, to be asked back to that business, your trust is gone, your psychological safety there, your relationship with the employer, and that's very, very difficult to build back," she said. Workers offered their old jobs back are asking for more money and to know how AI might impact future staffing, Beaumont said. Requesting additional training and a clear explanation of your opportunities for advancement could be part of the discussion, she said. Communicate ways you would contribute value as a returning employee, outlining a new job description "that leverages the technology but also your expertise," Holtom said. You could end up in a higher-ranking position that pays more than the one you left, he said. Before accepting an offer, seek a commitment such as a one-year renewable contract that includes a buyout clause if the job is terminated in less than a year, Holtom suggested. Don't discount the distinctly human values of motivation and curiosity, which make people efficient and effective, Summers said. "Within our societies, work serves a broader purpose than just creating value for shareholders or customers or constituents," she added. "Work serves a human purpose as well. It's the manifestation of our search for meaning and purpose. We want to contribute to our communities as human beings."

Butcher Boy earns Bib Gourmand distinction in 2027 Michelin Guide

Oct 30, 2026

Butcher Boy earns Bib Gourmand distinction in 2027 Michelin Guide

MANILA, Philippines — Butcher Boy has earned a Bib Gourmand distinction in the 2027 Michelin Guide Philippines, moving up from its Michelin-Selected status in the 2026 edition and joining a select group of restaurants recognized for serving quality food at accessible prices.  The recognition was announced during the official awarding ceremony at the Manila Marriott Hotel on Thursday, Oct. 29, attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  Butcher Boy was among only two restaurants promoted from the Michelin-Selected category to Bib Gourmand this year. The distinction recognizes establishments that offer good-quality food at reasonable prices.  Butcher Boy Philippines CEO Dino Chua received the award, marking another milestone for the restaurant, which has continued to establish its presence in the local dining scene.  The recognition follows the restaurant's opening of its new and expanded location at Alabang West Parade along Daang Hari Road in Muntinlupa City in 2026. Led by Chua, the move marked a new chapter for the brand, allowing it to reach more diners in southern Metro Manila while maintaining its signature contemporary Asian-fusion cuisine.  Originally founded by Michelin-starred chef Andrew Walsh of Singapore's acclaimed Cure, Butcher Boy built its following at its former Makati location before relocating to Alabang to accommodate a bigger dining space and connect with a wider community.  Its culinary approach combines Southeast Asian flavors with Western cooking techniques, offering dishes such as its signature chicken laksa dumplings, fried chicken bao, Asian tacos, pork adobo and a variety of steaks, alongside carefully crafted cocktails.  The chicken laksa dumplings were among the dishes highlighted by Michelin inspectors.  During the restaurant's grand opening, Marketing Head Aubrey S. Mojica described its concept as “where east meets west,” emphasizing that while the menu had been expanded, the restaurant remained committed to preserving the quality, atmosphere and dining experience that patrons had come to expect.  Mojica also underscored the importance of customer service, saying the restaurant's identity goes beyond its food to include the experience it provides to diners.  With its latest Michelin recognition, Butcher Boy strengthens its position in the Philippine dining scene, bringing its combination of Asian-fusion flavors, steaks and accessible dining to the Alabang community.  Butcher Boy is located at Alabang West Parade, Daang Hari Road, Muntinlupa City. For reservations, call 0939-868-0531.