The spacious property located in the 500 block of El Capitan Drive in Danville was sold on Aug. 2, 2024, for $1,899,000, or $833 per square foot.
Read More »
Sale closed in Danville: $1.9 million for a four-bedroom home
And the 2025 ‘Color of the Year’ is … uncertain
Murky reds, uncertain blue-greens -- what are this year's COTY picks trying to tell us?
Read More »
The 22 best stocking stuffers, including tech products and gifts under $50
Shop our picks for the best stocking stuffers, including mini perfumes, earbuds, wine stoppers and more.
Read More »
Brodie Croft looking to inspire Leeds to top six – courtesy of notebook
BRODIE Croft hopes to be all write and help Leeds gatecrash the play-offs, thanks to his notebook.
For the Rhinos’ star jots down everything he needs to be the best he can be after every match and every meeting.
The stand off has already established himself as a key part of the bid to bring silverware back to Headingley, less than a year after he joined.
Boss Brad Arthur – who has committed to stay for 2025 – recognised the day he walked in that he took notes in off-field meetings ahead of matches.
And lessons picked up on the pitch also go in there as he looks to stay at the levels that earned him rugby league’s biggest individual honour, the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award, in 2022.
Croft said: “You could call them little mental fresheners – just reminding me of little cues I’m looking for in matches, both in attack and defence.
“It’s something I’ve done throughout my career. I find it works for me, it doesn’t work for everyone but I’ll keep doing it.
“There’s a good balance in there of strengths and weaknesses of the opposition’s game that we’ll try and exploit but also attributes of my game that I want to implement to counteract them.
MOST READ IN RUGBY LEAGUE
“Every meeting and every game I bring it. I’ve the same routine every week, regardless of who you’re against, you always do your homework beforehand.
“After games and training sessions I’ll write down what I’ve done well and I have my own goals each week that I want to try to hit.
“I self-coach myself a bit and hold myself accountable before the coaches. That’s only going to help me improve my own performance and hopefully that helps the team’s.
“That’s the best preparation for myself but the coach also holds me to account – just because I take notes doesn’t mean they give me a blind eye and Brad’s really good with that.
“I really enjoy what he’s brought to the club and the boys are really buying into him.”
Leeds need all of Croft’s expertise as they must win at Hull KR and hope to squeeze into the top six as they lie one point behind Leigh with one match remaining,
But the 27-year-old – who still lives on the other side of the Pennines – believes it is up to the forward pack to set the platform.
He added: “It makes your job on the edge a lot easier if the guys in the middle work hard.
“It’s a joy to come to work every day and while the season can be called frustrating in a way, the whole narrative can change.”
Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan splits from EastEnders’ actress fiancee Laila Rouass after 147 months together
SNOOKER legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has split from fiancée Laila Rouass — 147 months after they got together.
Ronnie, 48, who has scored a record 15 maximum-147 breaks in a glittering career, has been playing abroad and barely seen the 53-year-old actress.
A friend said: “They have been going in different directions.”
Actress Laila was not wearing her diamond engagement ring when she appeared on This Morning last month.
Seven-times world champion Ronnie gave her the huge sparkler in 2013 — a year after they started dating.
However they never married and friends say they have now broken up — 147 months since they got together.
The couple separated in 2022 before patching things up.
A friend said: “Ronnie and Laila really threw themselves back into their relationship after the split a couple of years ago.
“He kept posting pics of them online at home together and saying romantic things on special occasions, but that’s all come to a halt.
“They’ve tried so hard but they just can’t make it work.”
Laila popped up on ITV’s This Morning last month to publicise her stint as Ayesha Siddhu in EastEnders.
Meanwhile, her fiancé, who has scored a record 15 maximum-147 breaks throughout his career, has been in lucrative competitions abroad.
The pal went on: “Ronnie has spent months and months on the road this year doing snooker tours for big money in China and Saudi Arabia while Laila has been concentrating on her acting career.
“There is a lot of love between them but they have been going in different directions and conceded it is over.
“Ronnie and Laila make a lovely couple so the people who know them best are hoping this is a blip like back in 2022.”
Last year, Footballers’ Wives star Laila, told how “talking” eventually helped her reconcile with Ronnie, who was awarded an OBE in 2016.
She said: “We found our way back, we just worked it out.
“Back when I announced it, we hadn’t been together for almost eight months at that time.
“Talking is so underrated.
There is a lot of love between them but they have been going in different directions and conceded it is over
A pal
“If you can sit down and say how you feel and what you want when you get older that is much easier to say too.”
Ronnie, who has three kids from previous relationships, has spoken openly about his mental health battles and regularly threatens to retire from snooker.
This week he crashed out of the English Open after a shock first-round loss to China’s He Guoqiang, with fans criticising his decision to play left-handed.
Ronnie said of the defeat: “I’m not even bothered.”
Representatives for Ronnie and Laila declined to comment.
How appalling that Mohamed Fayed never lived to face justice – but others can be held to account
Harrods beast
HOW appalling that Mohamed Fayed never lived to face justice.
That only now, a year after his death, the 20-plus apparent victims of his sickening rapes and sexual assaults feel able to come forward.
We do not of course blame them.
Their many traumatic accounts reveal Fayed as a monstrous, bullying predator who ran Harrods through fear and viewed all women on the staff as his exclusive sexual playthings.
He used his lawyers and security team to silence anyone threatening to go public. He bugged rooms and phones.
One woman says she was just 15 when Fayed, aged 79, raped her. She did go to the police, but no action ensued. Why?
Who were the lawyers and security officers who covered up for their perverted ogre of a boss?
And why, given the suspicions over Fayed going back decades, did Netflix whitewash his character in The Crown?
Fayed is dead. But others can still be held to account.
Sweet and sour
IMAGINE the mental gymnastics required to think that heavily taxing every sugary treat shoppers buy will somehow propel millions of workless people back into jobs.
The argument goes something like this:
Higher taxes would slash sales of “unhealthy” foods, magically cutting obesity. The obese lose weight, their health improves . . . hey presto, they sprint back to work. Well, it’s a theory.
Except sugar taxes won’t cut people’s weight to any significant degree. If George Osborne’s 2018 fizzy drinks levy had genuinely worked we wouldn’t still be hearing about soaring obesity.
And the grim truth is too many people simply like idling on benefits.
Cutting those handouts would be infinitely more effective in incentivising them to get a job, as the Tories proved years ago.
But Labour only needs the thinnest excuse to bring in nanny-state taxes — and this mad suggestion from their welfare reform adviser has provided it.
You may be slim, healthy and employed, but stand by to pay more for every sugary treat . . . “to ease worklessness”.
Site of shame
THE Four Houses Corner travellers’ site was, according to police, a long-standing hotbed of violent criminality and hostility.
That was before three smirking, feral teenage thugs fled there to hide and destroy evidence after dragging poor PC Andrew Harper a mile to his death in 2019.
Since when it’s been derelict. But yesterday the Lib Dem council began refurbishing it at staggering expense so it can house twice as many people.
What an insult to Andrew’s memory.
And a kick in the teeth for taxpayers footing the £3.5million bill.
Towie star flashes engagement ring as she gets engaged to boyfriend one year after welcoming baby girl
THE Only Way Is Essex star Clelia Theodorou has revealed her engagement to long-term partner Tommy Cole.
The ITV reality star confirmed the news in an Instagram post today.
Clelia shared a close-up look of her stunning engagement ring as she revealed the news to her 226,000 followers.
She then quickly followed it up with a clip of hers and Tommy’s adorable daughter wearing a baby-grow which read: “Mummy & Daddy are getting married.”
The TV beauty accompanied the snap with the caption: “A million times yes.
“It’s crazy to think back to the days when we didn’t know each other then all of a sudden there was you and you became everything.
“Mummy and Daddy are getting married!!!”
The reality TV star’s celebrity pals were quick to share their congratualtions as they rushed to the comments section with sweet messages for the star.
Jess Wright said: “Aww congratulations.”
Whilst Lauren Pope and Chloe Meadows shared similar messages echoing the sentiment.
The happy news comes just one year after the TV beauty and her partner welcomed their very first child.
She gave birth weeks after she was involved in a horror crash that killed her mum.
Tommy wrote: “The moment we were desperately waiting for came 2 weeks and 2 days early on September 16th 2023 at 6.53pm and we couldn’t be happier.
“Mummy and Daddy’s little miracle, Cielo Elizabeth Cole decided enough was enough and she was ready to meet us!
“The respect I have for @cleliatheodorou is immense. She managed to deliver her naturally with just gas and air in just a few hours. A real life superwoman. Both Mum & Baby are doing so well.”
Arsenal player ratings: David Raya shines in strong defence but Thomas Partey struggles in drab Champions League draw
ARSENAL began their new-look Champions League campaign with more David Raya heroics.
The defences won out in the first half, with just one save of note from a Bukayo Saka free-kick.
But within three minutes of the restart – and then a lengthy VAR check – Atalanta had a penalty.
Raya, though, spared Thomas Partey’s blushes with a truly extraordinary double save.
And that was the closest either side came to a goal in the 0-0 draw.
Here’s how SunSport’s Joshua Jones rated Mikel Arteta’s men…
David Raya – 9
Produced a simply stunning double save to stop Mateo Retegui’s penalty and then flung himself across to push away the follow-up rebound header – even better than his effort to deny Ollie Watkins.
Robbie Savage labelled it the “best save I’ve ever seen” while Gunners fans lauded their Spanish hero, who has conceded just once in five games so far this term.
Ben White – 7
Given the daunting task of trying to keep Ademola Lookman quiet inside a rocking Gewiss Stadium but completed the job with his classic relaxed, languid demeanour.
William Saliba – 8
One of the world’s top centre-backs but did not need to be anywhere near his best – solid enough when called upon, including excellent late sliding tackle in own box.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Retegui showed great movement but Saliba will have far sterner tests this season, none more so than up against Erling Haaland on Sunday.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 7
Like his partner Saliba, Gabriel helped ensure the Arsenal defence came out on top.
Starting to run out of words to say about this pair who just concede so few chances.
Jurrien Timber – 7
Adds an extra dimension to this Arsenal side – showing just how much he was missed when sidelined last season.
Arguably had the easiest evening’s work off the four defenders.
Thomas Partey – 4
Martin Keown described the Gunners’ retraction en masse during the transition as Arteta putting up his own “Thames Barrier”.
But Partey nearly allowed the floodgates to open by giving away the penalty three minutes into the second half – only to be rescued by Raya’s heroics.
Declan Rice – 6
Top awareness to sniff out the Atalanta danger and help control midfield.
But squandered a great chance to drive Arsenal forward when he won the ball on the halfway line and could have launched a dangerous counter.
Kai Havertz – 6
With Jesus starting up front, Havertz dropped into a deeper role – but he is perfectly comfortable there, too, and can carry the ball forwards.
Little to show for his evening, though, but continued to put a shift in defensively until the final whistle.
Buakyo Saka – 6
Drew the foul from Ederson who collected an early yellow and from the resulting free-kick almost squeezed a low effort into bottom corner but for top save.
Given a breather for final 20 minutes with an eye on Sunday.
DAVID RAYA, TAKE A BOW!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2024
One of the best double saves you'll ever see@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/sPgZF293QI
Gabriel Martinelli skies a great chance to give Arsenal the lead
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2024
Gabriel Jesus – 5
Captain on the night was his typical busy self early on getting himself around but virtually all of his involvement was outside the Atalanta penalty area.
Withdrawn before the hour mark.
Gabriel Martinelli – 4
Struggled to get in the game and then when he did get in, squandered a really good chance when he blazed over.
Definitely not hitting top form so far this season and may well find himself among the subs against Manchester City.
SUBS
Leandro Trossard (for Jesus, 58 mins) – X
Plenty of energy from the Belgian.
Jorginho (for Partey, 58 mins) – X
Headed on for Partey before the hour mark – presumably knowing a strong showing could get him a starting spot at the Etihad.
Raheem Sterling (for Saka, 73 mins) – X
Became first player ever to represent four English clubs in the Champions League and immediately set up Martinelli.
Riccardo Calafiori (for Timber, 73 mins) – X
Helped ensure Arsenal kept the clean sheet – crucial minutes with his new team-mates.
Edo People Will Express Themselves Despite Armoured Tanks Around Former Governor
The Edo election has been won by the people of Edo State despite the machinations of hostile forces trying to use security and other agencies of the Federal Government to thwart them, Dr Pedro Obaseki, the deputy director-general of the Asue Ighodalo Campaign, has said. Obaseki who spoke in an interview late on Thursday said […]
Read More »
Biden calls rate cut ‘an important day for the country’
President Biden celebrated the progress of the American economy, but stop short of declaring victory, senior advisors told ABC News on a call previewing the remarks.
Read More »