During the early days of “The Simpsons,” Matt Groening was the sole artist getting all the credit, and it was Groening who was being invited onto the radio and TV to talk about the series. In truth, as “Springfield Confidential” explains, Groening’s collaborator Sam Simon was pivotal in developing the series. Simon served as showrunner on “The Simpsons” for its first few years, designed multiple characters (he’s behind Mr. Burns), and wrote several episodes. Yet his name was never mentioned in “Simpsons” reporting early on. The story goes that Simon resented that he never got credit and began to treat Groening poorly behind the scenes as a result. Simon left the show in 1993 but continued to get an executive producer credit. He passed in 2015, and “The Simpsons” still bears his name. “If Matt is Thomas Edison inventing the lightbulb,” Reiss points out, “Sam is George Westinghouse, building the factory to crank the bulbs out.”

“Springfield Confidential” also notes that Simon was only one of the behind-the-scenes masterminds of “The Simpsons,” and that trying to nail down the “singular genius” responsible for the show’s existence is impossible. After Groening and Simon, Reiss calls attention to writer George Meyer, who served as a vital gag writer for the show. Meyer was eventually profiled in the New Yorker and wrote 12 “Simpsons” episodes in addition to co-penning “The Simpsons Movie.” He left the show in 2005.

Reiss also credits Brooks, the man who gave Groening his platform and still serves as an executive producer on “The Simpsons” to this day. According to Reiss, Brooks was the one who made the “Simpsons” characters into real people with dramatic concerns, freeing them from being mere “slob” archetypes.

Demonstrators against Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government gathered in Tel Aviv to call for the release of hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attacks.

Thousands of protestors lit fires and gagged themselves in objection to the government’s failure to retrieve the hostages.

Pictures taken on Saturday night show thousands of people taking to Kaplan Street in the city, the site of weekly anti-government protests.

Some held placards putting the blame for the hostages’ fate on Netanyahu, with pictures of his face next to the text: ‘UR the boss, UR to blame.’

Hamas militants seized about 250 hostages on October 7, of whom Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead. 

Protestors lit fires and gagged themselves in objection to the government’s failure to retrieve the hostages

Family members and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, carrying signs and Israeli flags, lit a bonfire during a rally outside the Kirya military headquarters

Hamas militants seized about 250 hostages on October 7, of whom Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza , including 33 who are presumed dead 

Police accused the anti-government protesters of being ‘rioters’ and said the demonstration was illegal.

There have been several clashes between police and protestors as the officers blocked Begin Road in Tel Aviv while protestors lit bonfires outside the Kirya military headquarters.

The police said they have arrested 16 people so far in Tel Aviv.

Chants of ‘shame’ could be heard by some protestors as the police tried to move them away from the bonfires. 

It comes as families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza called for a mass rally in front of parliament next week as thousands gathered to support them in Tel Aviv Saturday.

Shira Elbag, whose 19-year-old daughter Liri was abducted by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack on Israel, made an emotional plea urging Israelis to pile the pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

‘The time has come to go out and fight against indifference and for life,’ she said.

Some held placards putting the blame for the hostages’ fate on Netanyahu

One placard had pictures of Netanyahu’s face next to the text: ‘UR the boss, UR to blame’

The weekly demonstration on the Tel Aviv plaza renamed by campaigners Hostages Square came as anti-government protesters also gathered nearby outside the Ministry of Defence

A protester carries a menorah during a gathering by relatives of Israeli hostages

A demonstrator gestures during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government

Demonstrators wearing gags and with their hands loosely bound

Thousands gathered to make their voices heard as part of Israeli democracy

A demonstrator with a zipper over her mouth takes part in the protest

‘I now ask you to come out with us into the streets and let us sound one united and clear voice: ‘Bring them home now!”

She said they would gather outside the parliament building in Jerusalem next week.

The weekly demonstration on the Tel Aviv plaza renamed by campaigners Hostages Square came as anti-government protesters also gathered nearby outside the Ministry of Defence.

Some of those who took to the streets in support of the hostages’ families later joined the anti-government rally, an AFP photographer said.

Former hostage Raz Ben Ami, who was freed in November after a deal brokered by Qatar and Washington, appealed directly to Netanyahu to speed up talks for the release of the rest.

‘Prime minister, on behalf of the hostage men and women, on behalf of the people of Israel, give the negotiators in Qatar the order. Do not return without a deal,’ she said.

Elbag, one of the leaders of the Hostage Families Forum, which represents some of the families, added: ‘I haven’t closed an eye from the thoughts and fear of what Liri and the other hostages are going through. After 176 days, the excuses are over.’

Numerous rallies have been organised since late last year among those who feel not enough has been done to ensure the safe return of the hostages still trapped in Gaza.

Police accused the anti-government protesters of being ‘rioters’ and said the demonstration was illegal. Pictured: Police detain a man

Demonstrators young and old attended the event in Tel Aviv

The police said they have arrested 16 people so far in Tel Aviv

Chants of ‘shame’ could be heard by some protestors as the police tried to move them away from the bonfires

Police officers carry a man away during the protest

More than 32,500 Palestinians and over 1,450 Israelis have been killed, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces since October 7

‘If the families knew how small the gap is, which Netanyahu is refusing to close’ in negotiations with Hamas, ‘they would explode,’ said former head of the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate, Amos Malka.

‘This is more evidence of his unsuitability to serve.’

Twenty families of hostages also told the press that Netanyahu was the ‘obstacle to a deal’, claiming he was making decisions without consulting the cabinet and only serving his own interests.

Netanyahu’s popularity in Israel has fallen since the war, with critics suggesting he could be prolonging the war to stay in power.

‘Netanyahu came into the war already with low popularity ratings,’ Mairav Zonszein, the International Crisis Group’s senior Israel-Palestine analyst, told The New Arab.

‘After October 7, he lost all legitimacy and a lot of Israelis hold him responsible for what happened,’ Zonszein said. ‘People want to see Netanyahu out.’

Only 15 per cent of Israelis now want him to stay in the role once the war ends.

‘Netanyahu’s conduct is unimaginable,’ the hostage families told local media.

Protesters carry placards during the gathering

A woman takes part in a protest to call for the release of hostages

Family members and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, carrying signs and Israeli flags, block the Ayalon Highway during the rally

‘It is criminal. We have no choice. We will work to replace you immediately — this is the fastest way to secure a deal.’

The large protest on Saturday comes after a previous big demonstration in January which marked the 100th day of captivity in Gaza for the Israeli hostages. 

Following Hamas’s attack, Israel has responded with a sustained military campaign in Gaza, initially placing Gaza City under siege and attacking sites they say are Hamas-controlled with devastating aerial bombardments.

Air strikes and Israel’s ground offensive have left 32,705 Palestinians dead, local health authorities said on Saturday, with 82 killed in the past 24 hours.

The United Nations Security Council last week supported calls for a ceasefire urging that all hostages still held captive in Gaza should also be released.

Resolution 2728 is understood to be non-binding and is not expected to have an immediate impact on the ongoing conflict.

Israel is not expected to heed the call for an immediate ceasefire, and Hamas is not expected to immediately and unconditionally release the remaining 134 hostages.

Gaza is home to some 2.3million people – 1.7million of whom have been displaced by the war, according to the United Nations Population Fund.

Not to state the obvious, but the order of release is probably the best way to watch these films if you’re planning on watching all three. The original, released in 1997, is easily the best of the bunch. In fact, if I were you, I’d just watch that and skip the sequels. But if you want to keep it going, follow it up with 2004’s “Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation.” This sequel actually has some mighty talent behind the camera: it was directed by Phil Tippett, a legendary special effects artist who worked on “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park,” and Paul Verhoeven’s “RoboCop.” He also directed the stop-motion nightmare that is “Mad God.” Sadly, the presence of Tippett isn’t enough to save the film, which is rather bad. To make matters worse, it more or less jettisons the satirical angle of the first film to go for a more straightforward action sequel route. 

Then there’s the next film in the series, “Starship Troopers 3: Marauder.” While nowhere near as good as the original film, this threequel does attempt to recapture some of what made that movie special. The satire is back, and so is Casper Van Dien, who reprises his role from the first film, Johnny Rico. Van Dien was reportedly down to return for part 2 as well, but the script didn’t call for his character at that time. 

But wait, there’s more! If you’re still not satisfied with your “Starship Troopers” fix, there are animated options, too! There’s the 2012 adult animated flick “Starship Troopers: Invasion,” helmed by Shinji Aramaki. Then there’s the 2017 animated feature “Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars,” directed by Shinji Aramaki and Masaru Matsumoto. These two films feature characters from the live-action movies, but they also stand on their own (provided you know the basic set-up of humans vs. bugs). There was also an animated TV series, “Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles,” which ran for 1 season.

Traffic and noise complaints about a new road scheme have forced a cash-strapped council to pay £5million of settlements to appease furious residents whose house prices have been devalued by the din.

Packages have now been paid out to more than 1,000 residents in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

There are now calls to halt the massive house-building programme involving more than 7,000 new homes by some of Britain’s biggest builders. 

And residents have been are fuming that council tax hikes are funding the compensation package

Critics say their local services will be swamped unless more schools, doctors’ surgeries and shops are provided to cope with the influx.

Pictured is the old estate of Eastmoor (background) and new builds (foreground) with new road

Packages have now been paid out to more than 1,000 residents in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Pictured: The new builds with the new road

Debbie Bennett from Wakefield, West Yorkshire who has been paid compensation after the value of her home plunged after a new road was built nearby to service a huge new housing estate

It comes after Wakefield Council started looking for a Government bail out to pay £5million to residents whose homes were devalued by a new road scheme.

The 5km road Neil Fox Way, named after Wakefield Rugby League player Neil Fox, was designed to ease congestion around the 2,500 new homes at the City Fields Site.

Its original name was the Wakefield Eastern Relief Road, to take traffic off Doncaster Road. 

But as local Tory Nadeem Ahmed quipped congestion is so bad ‘the relief road needs a relief road’.

The route and site were formerly green space and common land with a dirt track across it. According to locals it was so waterlogged it should never have been built on.

Since it opened in 2017, council bosses have had to settle 1,075 claims for homes being devalued by traffic and noise.

One of those affected is grandmother Debbie Bennett, 52, a manager at local bookies BetFred.

She said: ‘We got it because of the lorries and anything. We were advised if we did not accept it there and then we would get nothing so we were kind of forced into it.

A manager at local bookies BetFred, Ms Bennett bought the two bedroom property where she had lived since 1988 20 years ago for £39,500 with a council discount

There are now calls to halt the massive house-building programme involving more than 7,000 new homes by some of Britain’s biggest builders

‘It did reduce my journey to work but it has devalued the house.’ 

Ms Bennett bought the two bedroom property where she had lived since 1988 20 years ago for £39,500 with a council discount.

It is currently valued around £80.000 but nearby properties have gone on the market for up to £130,000. 

The new road is at the back of her rear garden where there were once fields teeming with deer.

She added: ‘You don’t seen any wildlife now and it has cost me a lot more than two grand. 

‘I already spent the £2,000 – it might just have been £1,700 – when I got it a few years ago so it has gone.

‘I heard the new houses are near a mine shaft anyway from when this was a pit town. You assume the land was properly assessed but we reckon there will be subsidence at some point.’

Her home was built during the 1960s. She continued: ‘It was all Green Belt land the new houses were built on and it should never have been sold off.

The latest owners to be considering a claim are Pat and Trevor Baxter, aged 71 and 63, who live just a few doors down from Mrs Bennett and bought their property two years ago for £125,000

Residents have been are fuming that council tax hikes are funding the compensation package – so far paid out to more than 1,000 residents in Wakefield, West Yorkshire

‘Some are happy renting houses around here but if they do decide to buy their homes they might end up with something that is not worth as much as they think it is.’

The latest owners to be considering a claim are Pat and Trevor Baxter, aged 71 and 63, who live just a few doors down from Mrs Bennett and bought their property two years ago for £125,000.

They said their dream home had been blighted by traffic congestion. Bakery worker Mr Baxter said: ‘We were aware of the scheme but were worried we had missed the boat.

‘There was literally nothing there before the new road and houses. Even in the summer it was wet and you had watch where you stepped so it shocked me they developed it in the first place.

‘You go for a bus in the morning and take your life in your hands. It is mad because people come off the new road at such a speed.

‘When we came to look at this place the estate agent assured us that we did not need to worry and they were not going to build in the woods nearby.

‘The main thing we are worried about is whether they are going to build in the wood. We were told they were not going to build houses at this end – but they are.

‘They should be building more affordable housing.’

The 5km road Neil Fox Way, named after Wakefield Rugby League player Neil Fox, was designed to ease congestion around the 2,500 new homes at the City Fields Site

Mrs Baxter continued: ‘The traffic is horrific. They use our road as a short cut and speed track. It is horrific just trying to cross the road.

There is so much building going on that you go past one spot and there is nothing there. Three weeks later there is a block of houses there.

‘We have got ten people living in a two bedroom house just down the road. They had one toilet and one bath. We need houses for social need.

‘They are talking about 3,000 more houses, as well as the ones they have already built, with no new doctor’s and no new dentist’s.

‘I have just cleaned my windows. I am forever cleaning them because I have never known a street as dusty in my life with all this traffic.’

Councillor Ahmed said: ‘The compensation is for the devaluing of the houses. Roads which had a traffic of 100 a day now have 1,500 in East Moor is the worst affected area.

‘The five million was raised by increasing council tax for the maximum allowed without a referendum.

‘People are paying the bill and not happily when the developers are making millions. The policy has created a lot of housing and the infrastructure is not there.

Critics say their local services will be swamped unless more schools, doctors’ surgeries and shops are provided to cope with the influx

‘Locals feel they have been done over. They saw 100 cars a day now multiply that by ten. They were told it was a relief road to make things easier for Wakefield not just to pave the way for more houses.

‘So they feel conned particularly since none of the new homes are particularly affordable. They are in the £250k to £300k range – not cheap for Wakefield.

‘There is always an argument we need more houses but you need surgeries and schools or this is knock on effect on the area.

‘The people who are affected are saying all these houses have been built there, the council have to pick up the bill and either the national or local tax payer will be paying for developers to make big profits.

‘I am not against profit as a Tory but I am against profit funded by the tax payer. They are a quarter of halfway through a mission to put 7,000 new houses.

‘Now they need to have a rethink. People who grew up in Wakefield are not getting the school places we want.

‘Residents at least need a new primary school or doctors’s surgery to compensate for 5,000 traffic movements outside their houses.

‘There is moves to get this money back from the Department of Transport but that is funded by the national tax payers. Meanwhile, the developers have walked away with millions.’

Director George Miller is best known for his wild and energetic directing style, and his films tend to be fast-paced and wildly stylistic. Miller is the man behind the “Mad Max” movies, “The Witches of Eastwick,” and “Babe: Pig in the City.” He won an Academy Award for his animated film “Happy Feet.” Needless to say, when Miller adapted “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” to the big screen, it was wildly stressful, quickly cut, and far more panicked than the version starring William Shatner. John Lithgow stepped into the lead role and he began the segment already panicking, pouring sweat, and worrying those around him.

Matheson, at the same Q&A mentioned above, noted that Lithgow played the part entirely wrong. Shatner, he felt, was a nervous man who slowly built himself into a panicked frenzy. It was the kind of performance the story required. Lithgow, in contrast, started in a panicked frenzy. There was no build-up of tension in Miller’s version. There was just sweat and terror. One might argue that there is a horror movie-like integrity to that approach, but it didn’t necessarily improve upon the trim efficiency of the original “Nightmare.”

Indeed, one might say that “Twilight Zone: The Movie” didn’t add much of anything to the “Twilight Zone” canon. It merely reworked some of the show’s classic episodes filtered through the modern blockbuster sensibility of Miller, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, and John Landis. Dante’s wild, cartoonish segment added a lot of surreal, visual flare to the original, but the story remained fundamentally unaltered. And, of course, Landis’ notorious mishandling of his segment led to multiple deaths. There aren’t too many reasons to watch “Twilight Zone: The Movie.”

• Duane Brick, 53, was convicted of abusive sexual contact against a female passenger on a flight from Phoenix to Seattle
• He pleaded guilty on March 20 and faces up to two years in jail
• The victim is suing Delta Airlines claiming they did not handle her report correctly and overserved Brick alcohol

By Bethan Sexton For Dailymail.Com

Published: 15:42 EDT, 30 March 2024 | Updated: 15:43 EDT, 30 March 2024

A woman who was sexually assaulted by a Delta Airlines employee on a flight back from a Taylor Swift concert is suing the airline.

The victim was traveling aboard a Delta flight from Phoenix to Seattle when she was groped by fellow passenger Duane Brick as she slept.

Brick, 53, who as later identified as a Delta mechanic, placed the victim’s hand on his crotch and put his hand up her shirt while sat next to her during the flight on March 20, 2023.

The woman awoke to being assaulted and reported the incident, which was also witnessed by another passenger. Upon landing in Seattle, she reported the incident and Brick was subsequently convicted.

However, she is now suing Delta over claims flight attendants on board allowed him to remain seated next to her for 15 minutes after the report.

A woman who was sexually assaulted by a Delta Airlines employee on a flight back from a Taylor Swift concert is suing the airline

The victim was traveling aboard a Delta flight from Phoenix to Seattle when she was groped by fellow passenger Duane Brick as she slept. Pictured: Seattle Tacoma Airport

The victim also claims that they overserved Brick alcohol during the journey.

‘As a common carrier, Delta owes the highest duty of care and has a legal duty to provide airline passengers, including the Plaintiff, with a safe flight that is free from unauthorized and abusive sexual contact from other passengers, including from Delta’s own employees,’ the lawsuit states. 

Brick admitted to touching the woman for his ‘sexual gratification,’ according to a statement from the Attorney’s Office.

The United States Attorney’s Office charged him with abusive sexual contact. He pleaded guilty on March 5 this year. 

Sentencing is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on June 10, 2024. He faces up to two years in prison. 

‘Everyone should feel safe to fall asleep on a plane without the risk of being groped and sexually assaulted,’ the victim’s lawyer Mark Lindquist said. ‘Airlines can and should do more to stop these gross violations.’ 

The lawsuit alleges negligence, gross negligence, assault and battery.

Further, Lindquist alleges Delta overserved alcohol to Mr. Brick, failed to adequately train employees on how to prevent and address sexual assaults, and failed to properly monitor the cabin and protect passengers.

The victim is now suing Delta over claims air stewards on board allowed him to remain seated next to her for 15 minutes after she reported the assault to staff

The assault is just one of dozens of cases of sexual abuse aboard flights reported in the last year to the Western District of Washington’s Attorney’s Office.

In July 2023, Jack Roberson, 69, entered a plea of guilty to simple assault for his contact with a 15-year-old seated next to him on a flight from Atlanta to Seattle.

 According to records in the case, Roberson placed his hand on teen’s thigh and slowly moved it up her thigh and under her skirt to her inner thigh. 

The victim reported to her guardian immediately and the defendant was taken into custody when the flight landed. 

Roberson faces up to a year in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lauren King on June 5, 2024. 

Similarly, Abhinav Kumar, 38,  was arraigned on a charge of abusive sexual contact for an assault on a teen sitting near him on an Emirates flight to Seattle. 

He has pleaded not guilty and a trial is set for May 6. 

‘The Western District of Washington continues to see an alarming increase in sexual abuse cases aboard aircraft,’ said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

 ‘Last August we emphasized that we have zero tolerance for such assaults. Sadly, we continue to learn of new allegations and are investigating and charging those cases.’

DailyMail.com has contacted Delta for comment. 

“The First Omen” centers on a young American woman who is sent to Rome to begin a life serving the church. Once there, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her faith and uncovers a conspiracy that seeks to bring about the birth of evil incarnate. The cast includes Nell Tiger Free (“Servant”), Sonia Braga (“Shotgun Wedding”), Ralph Ineson (“The Northman”), and Bill Nighy (“Living”).

While reviews haven’t dropped as of this writing, social media buzz from advance screenings has been very positive. /Film’s own BJ Colangelo said that it is “loaded with some scorching imagery that has been haunting me since I left the theater” on Twitter. /Film’s Bill Bria, also taking to Twitter, said the film “captures a beautifully disturbing ’70s horror vibe without ever feeling slavishly devoted to nostalgia or even its own franchise.”

Speaking of this franchise, it has been lucrative over the years. Donner’s original made more than $60 million in its day, a huge sum for the time, leading to a pair of successful sequels. 2006’s “Omen” remake also did very well, pulling in $120 million worldwide against a $25 million budget. So history is on this movie’s side. One of the only things working against it, perhaps, is the recent release of NEON’s “Immaculate.” Sydney Sweeney’s hit horror film deals with similar subject matter and will have been out for several weeks by the time “The First Omen” arrives.

Horror has been arguably the most important genre of the pandemic era when it comes to getting the box office back on track. Yes, Hollywood was always going to get back to releasing crowd-pleasing blockbusters with regularity, but movies like “M3GAN,” “The Black Phone,” and Parker Finn’s breakout hit “Smile” (among many others) have brought out audiences en masse to help fill in the gaps. As such, Disney is wise to continue to invest in theatrical horror. It’s certainly more beneficial than sending movies such as this directly to streaming.

“The First Omen” hits theaters on April 5, 2024.

A California woman who disappeared last month after becoming stranded in the Arizona desert has been found dead. 

Amanda Nenigar, 26, who vanished on February 28, was found naked under a tree just outside of Cibola, Arizona, around 1.5 miles from where her car was found on March 7. 

Her cause of death has not been released, and La Paz County officials say they are working to perform an autopsy to gather more information about her death.  

It comes as a chilling 911 call revealed Nenigar’s confusion as she tried to explain her whereabouts to a 911 operator, hours before she vanished.

Her family previously criticized the search by officials, and claim she provided near-exact coordinates to where her car was found as her sister Marissa told KKTV last week: ‘They could have found her.’ 

Amanda Nenigar, 26, was reported missing on February 28 after she became stranded out in the Arizona desert 

On March 7, searchers found her vehicle abandoned in a remote area in Cibola, Arizona, around 20 miles from her home in Blythe, California. Her belongings were not in the car 

Her sister Marissa (pictured) slammed the search and claimed they bungled the search for the missing 26-year-old as the dispatcher was confused by her location 

In the audio released last week, Nenigar was heard struggling to describe her surroundings to a dispatcher, saying: ‘Um, I’m not sure, I see a field.’

Nenigar’s family say the critical mistake that may have stopped searchers from finding her may have been the area that her 911 call was directed to. 

The 26-year-old called from a remote location in Arizona, however the 911 call was directed to California dispatchers, which her family say contributed to the confusion over what she was describing.

Marissa said: ‘I don’t know why they didn’t transfer her to dispatch in Arizona. She gave them her exact location and someone could have went and got her. They could have found her.’ 

Nenigar was heard in the call sounding confused and describing vague landmarks, as a dispatcher asked her: ‘What are you surrounded with? Do you just see fields? Is that all you see?’

‘I’m like kind of in a valley,’ she responded.

‘Yeah, there’s just a lot of mountains… I climbed to like a high mountain and I’m wearing pink.’ 

The 911 operator asked her ‘so you’re on Highway 78, you think? And what would be the nearest cross streets?’

‘Um, I’m not sure, I see a field,’ Nenigar said, as the dispatcher admitted he was struggling to get a navigational signal from her call.

‘I’m trying to get a location on you, but I’m not getting one,’ he said. 

The call was made on February 27, and Nenigar was reported missing by her family the next day after they couldn’t get hold of her. 

The 26-year-old called from the remote location in Arizona, however the 911 call was directed to California dispatchers, which her family say contributed to the confusion over what she was describing

She was heard in the call struggling to describe her surroundings to a dispatcher, saying: ‘Um, I’m not sure, I see a field’ 

When the vehicle was discovered, its rear wheels were propped up on a boulder 

After weeks of searches for the missing woman, her vehicle was found by the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office in a remote desert area in Cibola, Arizona – with its rear wheels propped on top of a boulder. 

Her sister said at the time that the find left her family confused, as ‘she’s never been in that part of the desert, ever.’

‘It’s not a familiar area for her to go,’ sister Merissa Nenigar added. 

She criticized authorities for what she deemed a bungled investigation, with the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office reportedly only becoming aware of the 911 call once they got involved. 

It is not clear how much time passed between California investigators receiving the missing person’s tip and the Arizona sheriff’s office becoming aware of the 911 call. 

The sheriff’s office discovered that the California dispatcher was confused by the coordinates that Nenigar gave over the phone.

Despite being heard in the 911 call asking Nenigar if she was on Highway 78, he reportedly sent cops to look for her along Highway 95, around 40 miles from where the car was found. 

Once Arizona deputies joined the search and listened to the call, they were able to follow her coordinates to just over a mile from where the car was found. 

Nenigar’s family said they were grateful for the efforts of searchers, after previously criticizing how her 911 call was directed to someone who didn’t understand the layout of her 

Before she was found dead, Marissa said her family were growing increasingly concerned as it was not like her to drop off the map so suddenly.  

‘Her phone goes straight to voicemail. Different people have tried calling her because maybe, I don’t know, she wanted to disappear and she blocked everyone, but no, that’s not the case. Her phone is going directly to voicemail,’ Marissa added. 

‘It’s been so many days like, what if she’s somewhere out there dead? Or what if she’s being human trafficked? What if somebody kidnapped her? I have no idea. Nobody knows.

‘We just want to know that she’s OK. We want her to come home.’ 

Friends of Shani Louk are distraught after the AP photographer who took a chilling photo of the 22-year-old‘s half-naked corpse after she was brutally murdered and paraded across Gaza by Hamas, won a prestigious award. 

AP photographer Ali Mahmud, who took pictures of Hamas terrorists as they committed mass murder on Oct. 7, has been awarded the oldest photojournalism gong by Reynolds Journalism Institute last week, placing first in ‘Team Picture Story of the Year.’

The photo depicts five armed Hamas members in a pickup truck, one of whom is resting his feet on Louk’s limp, mutilated body. Further footage shows the terrorists parading her body in Gaza amidst cheering crowds with one spitting on her remains.

Shani Cohen, an Israeli fire dancer, has been best friends with Shani Louk for over 15 years ever since they met in high school. She also has close ties to Louk’s family, making her tragic death even more heart-wrenching for Cohen.

Cohen said Louk’s friends and family were shocked to find the disturbing image of their friend circulating online, and to discover the ‘photographer’ who took it won an award, was devastating.

‘I don’t think it’s ethical, I think it’s completely ridiculous,’ Cohen told Dailymail.com.

AP freelance photographer Ali Mahmud has been awarded this week with the oldest photojournalism award by Reynolds Journalism Institute, placing first in the ‘Team Picture Story of the Year’

The photo depicts five armed Hamas members in a pickup truck, one of whom is resting his feet on Louk’s limp, mutilated body

Cohen emphasized the pain the news of the award inflicted on Louk’s family and friends.

‘We took it very personally. Some cried. We shared it immediately as we saw it,’ she said. ‘To see something like this is beyond ridiculous and beyond antisemitic.’

She called the photograph ‘sick’ and the decision to give it an award ‘completely unethical.’

She believes a photo of this nature does not serve society’s interests and should not be made publicly available. Instead, it should be restricted for intelligence purposes and subjected to censorship, she explained. 

‘A picture like this should be only for army needs and should be locked in some kind of private gallery,’ she stated, echoing the sentiments of Louk’s loved ones.

‘It’s not supposed to be something for society to even see,’ she added. ‘It’s completely sick. This whole situation is sick. Nobody is feeling okay.’

She highlighted the lack of ethical considerations in awarding Mahmud, questioning the legitimacy of his credentials as a photographer. 

‘I’m not sure this photographer is even a legit photographer or someone professional. All the friends and family don’t think its ethical or legit for this to be happening.’

Shani Cohen has been best friends with Shani Louk for over 15 years ever since they met in high school. She called the photograph ‘sick’ and the decision to give it an award ‘completely unethical.’ Pictured: Shani Louk (L) Shani Cohen (R)

Louk’s friend, Yuli Tsinker (pictured at Louk’s memorial at the SuperNova festival), said she cannot stop crying since the award was announced, nonetheless, she’s glad ‘the world will see what they did.’

Further footage shows the terrorists parading her body in Gaza amidst cheering crowds with one spitting on her remains 

Louk’s friend and photographer, Yuli Tsinker, said she cannot stop crying since the award was announced, nonetheless, she’s glad ‘the world will see what they did.’

‘Ever since they posted this, I’ve been walking around nervous and can’t stop crying,’ she said to Dailymail.com. 

But as painful as the news was for Tskinker, she also believes there is some importance in sharing the deeply disturbing image with the world. 

‘On the one hand, it’s a really difficult picture and to win the picture of the year with the body of a young girl next to five men, murderers with weapons, is audacity!’

‘But on the other hand, this is also an explanation, that the world will see what they did to such a beautiful, young girl, all one big heart who only helped everyone and claimed that there is no such thing as bad people.’

‘The world will see what they did to her! to her body!’ she said. 

The decision to give the award for the photograph, which neglects to mention Shani Louk’s name in the caption or description, has since been slammed. The photographer has also been accused of having prior knowledge or involvement in the massacre.

The post garnered hundreds of comments condemning the Reynolds Journalism Institute and AP since it was shared last week. 

According to POY, the category ‘recognizes the collaborative effort of a photography staff covering a single topic or news story. It is a narrative picture story that consists of images taken as part of a team effort to cover a single issue or news story.’ 

The Reynolds Journalism Institute did not immediately respond to Dailymail.com’s request for comment. 

‘Shani Louk. That’s her name. Yes, the half naked dead woman dragged around Gaza like fresh prey. The picture you decided must be praised and awarded. Shani Louk,’ one user commented. 

Another wrote, ‘She has a name. Shani Louk. Her family specifically requested that we remember her laughing and living. Take this down and show some respect. If you want to post our Shani, find a photo she consented to.’

Australian Actor Nathaniel Buzolic said: ‘This is truly disgusting, having interviewed the family of this innocent young girl who was murdered by Hamas on oct 7th. You should be ashamed of yourselves for even allowing this image to be shared for any purpose other than exposing the vile nature of Palestinian terrorists. If this is put on display for achievements, humanity is nothing short of vile at this point.’

One woman, claiming to be from the same community as Louk, wrote: ‘I am horrified. That is Shani Louk! She is from my neighborhood! NO ONE should win an award for taking a picture of her horrific death… least of all someone who was able to be that close to the massacre. This is the most disgusting coverage I’ve ever seen.’

Louk, a 22-year-old German-Israeli tattoo artist and influencer, had been dancing with friends at the SuperNova festival before she was murdered by terrorists. 

She has become recognized since Oct. 7 for her vibrant personality, peaceful demeanor and striking beauty that was captured through footage of her dancing at the festival, just moments before the attack.

Cohen remembered her friend as a vibrant soul who embraced art, culture, and peace.

‘She was the one person who really believed in world peace,’ Cohen reflected.

Cohen emphasized Louk’s compassionate nature and aspirations. Louk’s tragic death, a result of senseless violence at a party where she went to dance, left a void in the lives of those who cherished her.

‘It’s very ironic in a sad way to think what happened to her,’ she said. ‘Because anyone who knew Shani for even half an hour knew that she was the one person who really believed in world peace … and to travel and to see the whole world.’

She loved culture so much. She was never racist for even one second in her life and very racist, very demonic people cut all her dreams in one moment at a party where she went to dance.’

‘We are all very very missing her and thinking about her every minute,’ she said. ‘She’s a big loss to the world.’

‘She was so special, I have never met such a pure person and I will do everything to make sure that she is remembered just like that, beautiful and pure,’ Tskinker told Dailymail.com. 

Louk, a 22-year-old German-Israeli tattoo artist and influencer, was dancing with friends at the SuperNova festival before she was murdered by terrorists. She has become recognized since Oct. 7 for her vibrant and peaceful demeanor and beauty that was captured through footage of her dancing at the festival, just moments before the attack

Mahmud, who was present with Hamas terrorists during their violent attack on innocent individuals – including teenagers, infants, the elderly, and entire families, where they committed atrocities such as torture and rape – has been accused of having had prior knowledge of the massacre to capture sensational shots. 

Multiple news outlets and watchdog groups have alleged that Mahmud and two other AP freelance journalists had prior knowledge – and even participated in the Oct. 7 attacks. 

The parents of Louk and other Oct. 7 victims sued AP and Reuters last month for their association with photojournalists who accompanied the terrorists on their massacre. They accused the outlets of disregarding direct links the photographers had to terrorist organizations. 

The outlets staunchly denied these claims, and said ‘AP had no advance knowledge of the Oct. 7 attacks, nor have we seen any evidence – including in the lawsuit – that the freelance journalists who contributed to our coverage did. Allegations like this are reckless and create even more potential danger for journalists in the region.’

German tattoo artist named Shani Louk, who was in her early 20s, was in Israel to attend a peace rave

Shani, 22, was German but grew up in Israel, and was one of hundreds of unsuspecting partygoers at the Nova festival where Hamas conducted a massacre of some 260 civilians

In November, the Israeli government demanded answers from western media outlets including CNN, Reuters, The Associated Press and The New York Times following a media watchdog report that suggested freelance photographers they each hired may have been embedded with Hamas on October 7.

The issue – highlighted by Honest Reporting – concerned four freelance photographers from Gaza whose works have been published by the media outlets.

Among them was Hassan Eslaiah, a photographer who has since been seen in an image with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

All four outlets deny having any prior knowledge of the Hamas attack and insist they have cut ties with the reporters. The New York Times claimed Honest Reporting had its ‘vague insinuations’, defending the photographer it had hired.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other cabinet ministers demanded more information.

In this photo from October 7, taken by Ali Mahmud, Hamas militants are shown transporting the body of Shani Louk. Her body is not shown but is to the side of the men’s feet 

Hassan Eslaiah (right), a former freelance AP/CNN photographer, with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar (left) in an undated photo

‘The National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the PMO views with utmost gravity that photojournalists working with international media joined in covering the brutal acts of murder perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on October 7th in the communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip.’

‘These journalists were accomplices in crimes against humanity; their actions were contrary to professional ethics.’

‘Overnight the GPO issued an urgent letter to the bureau chiefs of the media organizations that employed these photographers and sought clarifications on the matter. The National Public Diplomacy Directorate demands that immediate action be taken,’ a statement posted on Israel’s Prime Minister’s X account read.

In response to the criticism, a CNN spokesperson told DailyMail.com at the time: ‘We had no prior knowledge of the October 7th attacks.

‘Hassan Eslaiah, who was a freelance journalist working for us and many other outlets, was not working for the network on October 7th. As of today, we have severed all ties with him.’

In a previous statement, the network said it had not found ‘reason to doubt the journalistic accuracy’ of his work.

The New York Times issued a full-throated denial of the allegations.

It had hired photographer Yousef Masoud, whose photographs portray the violence in Gaza.

Eslaiah posted this video on October 7 showing the ransacking of an Israeli tank

‘The accusation that anyone at The New York Times had advance knowledge of the Hamas attacks or accompanied Hamas terrorists during the attacks is untrue and outrageous. It is reckless to make such allegations, putting our journalists on the ground in Israel and Gaza at risk. The Times has extensively covered the Oct. 7 attacks and the war with fairness, impartiality, and an abiding understanding of the complexities of the conflict.’

‘Though Yousef was not working for The Times on the day of the attack, he has since done important work for us. There is no evidence for Honest Reporting’s insinuations. Our review of his work shows that he was doing what photojournalists always do during major news events, documenting the tragedy as it unfolded,’ the newspaper said at the time.

The Associated Press, in its statement, denied having any prior knowledge of the attack and insisted the first photos it received were taken after it began.

‘The first pictures AP received from any freelancer show they were taken more than an hour after the attacks began. No AP staff were at the border at the time of the attacks, nor did any AP staffer cross the border at any time. We are no longer working with Hassan Eslaiah, who had been an occasional freelancer for AP and other international news organizations in Gaza.’  

‘AP uses images taken by freelancers around the world. When we accept freelance photos, we take great steps to verify the authenticity of the images and that they show what is purported.’

The image taken by Eslaiah was published by the Associated Press on the day that the Hamas attack began 

Palestinians walk away from the kibbutz of Kfar Azza, Israel, near the fence with the Gaza strip on October 7 in a picture taken by Eslaiah 

‘The role of the AP is to gather information on breaking news events around the world, wherever they happen, even when those events are horrific and cause mass casualties.’

Two photos published by Reuters on October 7 were taken close to the Gaza border as the Hamas invasion began.

Honest Reporting notes that photographers Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa and Yasser Qudih ‘happened to be at the border just in time for Hamas’ infiltration.’

In response to the reporters, a Reuters spokesperson said that the agency acquired pictures on October 7 from photographers that it did not previously have a relationship with.

‘The photographs published by Reuters were taken two hours after Hamas fired rockets across southern Israel and more than 45 minutes after Israel said gunmen had crossed the border. Reuters staff journalists were not on the ground at the locations referred to in the HonestReporting article,’ the statement also reads.

‘Did the photojournalists who freelance for other media, like CNN and The New York Times, notify these outlets? Judging from the pictures of lynching, kidnapping and storming of an Israeli kibbutz, it seems like the border has been breached not only physically, but also journalistically,’ the HonestReporting feature read.

In his video front of attack, Eslaiah appears to be wearing his own clothes and is not identifiable as a member of the media.

In 2021, it was widely reported that the Associated Press used the same office space as Hamas in Gaza. 

One of the other photojournalists named in the report is Yousef Masoud, who has been photographing Hamas fighters in Gaza for years. This photograph, taken in December 2022, shows militants posing with weapons

‘Brianna Noble: Urban Cowgirl,’ a 2020 photograph that received the award of excellence from the same organization, pictures a black cowgirl as she ‘represents the new American West.’ It is meant to portray ‘independence, strength, and resilience – while standing up for her values – social and racial justice and equity’

The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute did not immediately respond to  Dailymail.com’s request for comment. 

Other recent photos that received awards by the Reynolds Journalism Institute for ‘Picture of the Year’ showcase images of strength and resilience. 

In 2023, an image of Lewiston coping with tragedy after a mass shooting was given the award of excellence by the institute. It featured a loving embrace by family members struggling through grief to move forward after the deadliest mass shooting of the year.

‘Brianna Noble: Urban Cowgirl,’ a 2020 photograph that received the award of excellence, pictures a black cowgirl as she ‘represents the new American West.’ It is meant to portray ‘independence, strength, and resilience – while standing up for her values – social and racial justice and equity.’ 

If nothing else, it seems Hayden Christensen genuinely loved his time making “Star Wars,” both for the prequel films, and also enthusiastically returning to play the character in “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Ahsoka.”

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hayden Christensen talked about the fun of shooting his first “Star Wars” movie. “[Co-star] Ewan [McGregor] was always able to lighten up a situation. And there were odd moments,” Christensen said. “My pants split numerous times, right up to my crotch. It happened over and over when I was doing jumps. So there was always something to laugh at, even if it was me.” 

Now, the “Star Wars” prequels do feature a lot of elaborate stunts and acrobatics, many of which involved Jedi doing jumps and flips without the use of wires. Sure, they were not necessarily super dangerous stunts that could have killed someone like the ones in “Mad Max: Fury Road,” but there was still some impressive and fun stuntwork — just not according to the actors behind that fight between Mace Windu and Palpatine. Nevertheless, the main Jedi and Sith actors in the prequel trilogy got to do more of the big stunts than even the actors in the original trilogy, with Mark Hamill being forbidden from performing two crucial stunts in the original films for being too dangerous.

As for Christensen, no matter how many pants he ripped, at least he didn’t almost poop his pants, unlike that one stormtrooper.