Los Angeles, Ca

Universal Studios exploring building new theme park

Published

2 years ago

April 12, 2024

Universal Studios exploring building new theme park

A new Universal theme park may be coming to the United Kingdom and the entertainment and attractions giant is asking Britons for their input.

Last year, Universal purchased a 476-acre parcel of land outside of Bedford, England, about 55 miles north of London, to explore the possibility of building a new theme park and resort. It would not only be the first Universal theme park in the U.K., but the first in all of Europe.

Over the last several months, the company says it’s been researching the feasibility of such a project and discussing it with local and national stakeholders.

This photo shows proposed ‘zones’ that could make up a possible Universal Studios theme park in the United Kingdom. (Universal)

While the project remains just an idea at this time, Universal is now asking for the public to chime in with their opinions on how a potential park might affect their lives and how the company could best honor and celebrate the region in a respectful manner.

“We have started a public engagement period on our potential theme park and resort experience in Bedford,” a Universal Destinations & Experiences spokesperson told Nexstar. “This represents the next step in our ongoing due diligence and feasibility work and is an opportunity for us to share early thinking on our plans and secure feedback.”

The park would be built south of Bedford on a 700-acre piece of property which includes the 476 acres purchased last year and a smaller parcel that Universal has the option to acquire.

The company said the area is already allocated for development and has the flat topography that a large-scale theme park resort would require.

*This map shows the location of a possible Universal theme park in the U.K. and its location relative to other major cities and landmarks.*

The site has easy access to fast passenger rail service connecting to London and London Luton Airport, and a new regional rail project currently under construction that will connect Cambridge to Oxford would also provide additional rail service.

The Bedford region has a rich blue-collar history, Universal says, and was once the principal supplier of bricks throughout the British construction industry. While those brick plants were torn down decades ago, the industry left an indelible mark on those who called the region home and still do to this day.

Universal says it’s interested in incorporating some of the bricks still found on-site into some of the potential buildings and designs and even incorporate other aspects of the town’s history into food and drink facilities or future attractions.

*Woman war workers loading bricks onto a train at the London Brick Company factory in Bedford, England, during World War II, August 1941. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)*

For Universal, England is a logical place to develop a park and increase its influence. The company says 38 million U.K. residents traveled to its theme parks around the globe this past year, spending as much as £34 billion ($42.3 billion) annually.

The United Kingdom is an especially attractive market for Universal due to its strong tourism and transportation infrastructure that links seamlessly to the rest of Europe. Comcast, the parent company of Universal, already has a strong presence in the country with NBCUniversal and Sky both having headquarters there.

Universal says that a new park in the United Kingdom would be mutually beneficial for the company and its residents, emphasizing its potential to bring thousands of jobs and increase tourism throughout the region.

*The Phase 1 Master Plan and the Indicative Master Plan provided by Universal for its propose new theme park in Bedford, England. (Universal)*

Any construction, Universal says, would be done with careful attention to local wildlife and ecology, with landscaping and dedicated green space a core component of any future plans. Comcast previously vowed to become carbon-neutral by 2035 and it says its theme parks play a big role in those goals.

Local infrastructure would also see significant investment, including the construction of at least one new rail station and dedicated direct roadways that would accommodate the bulk of the park’s traffic, according to documents posted on Universal’s official website for the project.

Locals are asked to participate in a short survey to provide feedback on the proposal, whether to show support, opposition or to offer input on how it could be improved.

“While it will still be some time before we decide whether or not we proceed, we look forward to further engaging with the community on this potential development,” the spokesperson said.

If there is adequate public support, and if Universal determines building a new park would be a smart financial move, construction could take between five and six years. In building a park in historic Bedford, Universal would also become permanent tenants of the region, writing a new chapter in the town’s history.

“If the project moves forward, we will become long-term members of the local community and look forward to future partnership,” an information packet posted online reads.

Members of the community can provide comment by either filling out the survey online, reaching out by phone or email, or requesting and mailing a paper copy.

Responses are due by May 3.

Any and all future updates will be posted online on Universal’s dedicated project website, the company says.

Los Angeles, Ca

Ditch typing and note-taking – try these apps

Published

10 months ago

March 19, 2025

Press Room

Ditch typing and note-taking – try these apps

The future of voice to text is here.

I’ve been testing a variety of tools that make taking notes, transcribing audio, and even voice typing faster and easier than ever.

If you have a smartphone, you’re already halfway there!

Google’s Pixel Recorder app is free and built into their smartphone. It’s excellent for transcribing meetings, lectures, and conversations – all in real time.

Apple’s Voice Memos App recently added transcriptions if you’re upgraded to iOS 18.

Samsung’s Voice recorder app now offers transcripts too – as long as you’re on their latest One UI 7 software. (Check Settings > About Phone > Software Information)

Got an older phone? Try Otter.AI. It works great for transcriptions across devices and you get 300 minutes a month free.

Don’t want to tie up your phone?

I’ve been testing AI-powered digital audio recorders from a startup named Plaud.

The Plaud Note is thin, records for hours, and can even clip to the back of your phone to record calls. Just make sure you know your local laws before using that feature.

The Plaud Pin can be clipped to your shirt or worn on your wrist for hands-free recording.

Both devices sync audio to a companion app that auto transcribes and summarizes.

You get five hours of transcription a month included, with options to pay for more.

Pricing for each gadget starts around $160 dollars.

Want to transcribe audio files on your computer?

My favorite Mac app is MacWhisper. You can even get it completely free – although paid versions are avaialble with more features and options.

On Windows, check out Vibe Transcribe, also free.

And for a web-based option, Whisper Web gets the job done.

Finally, if you want to type less and talk more… there’s an excellent AI voice-to-text app called Wispr Flow. It was previously Mac only but just became avaialble for Windows, too.

One you install it, you pick a hotkey. Then, instead of typing just press and hold down that key and dictate what you want to write.

Since it uses the power of AI, you can even stumble or ramble and it will clean up your words and get the punctionation right.

It’s a gamechanger for responding to emails fast! You get 2,000 words free each week with options to pay for more.

Enjoy your newfound time!

Los Angeles, Ca

Prison officer survives alleged attack by inmate transferred from L.A. County

Published

10 months ago

March 18, 2025

Press Room

Prison officer survives alleged attack by inmate transferred from L.A. County

An alleged attack on a state prison officer by a 43-year-old inmate transferred from Los Angeles County is being investigated as attempted homicide, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials announced Tuesday.

The March 18 incident at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad reportedly unfolded just before 9 a.m. on what authorities describe as a “dayroom floor.”

The inmate, Anthony G. Ramirez, is believed to have pulled an improvised weapon from his waistband before attempting to attack custody staff member, according to a CDCR news release.

“Staff immediately responded, disarming Ramirez and placing him in handcuffs without incident,” the release detailed.

Anthony G. Ramiez, 43, seen in this undated mug shot. (CDCR)

The 43-year-old, who was transferred to SVSP in 2008 after being sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder, with enhancements for the use of a firearm and causing great bodily injury or death, was placed in restrictive housing pending the investigation and possible felony prosecution by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

Both Ramirez and the custody staff member were examined by medical personnel who noted no serious injuries.

Officials said that the California Correctional Peace Officers Association was notified of the incident and prison staff were offered peer support services and employee assistance programs.

Salinas Valley State Prison, opened in 1996, houses more than 2,400 minimum, medium, maximum and high-security inmates. The facility also offers vocational programs and academic classes and employs some 1,800 people.

Los Angeles, Ca

Algal bloom sickening marine mammals off Southern California 'will only get worse'

Published

10 months ago

March 18, 2025

Press Room

Algal bloom sickening marine mammals off Southern California 'will only get worse'

A toxic algal bloom leaving an increasing number of marine mammals stranded along Southern California beaches shows no signs of subsiding and “will only get worse,” officials said Monday.

“This week, we saw more stranded dolphins (both alive and deceased) than we saw during the major domoic acid (DA) bloom in 2023,” Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) Los Angeles posted on Facebook.

Recent tests showed DA-producing algae levels have increased, and officials believe that trend will continue in the coming weeks. “We anticipate that it will only get worse,” the post read.

MMCC asked the public not to approach sick dolphins or sea lions on the beach because they can become aggressive upon awakening from a seizure.

A dolphin stranded at Dockweiler North is seen in an image posted on March 13, 2025. (L.A. County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division)

“This is a safety issue for people and their pets as much as it is for the marine mammals,” officials said.

Beachgoers were also urged not to push stranded dolphins back into the water, saying it can reduce their chances of survival.

More information about domoic-acid poisoning can be found at https://marinemammalcare.org/domoic-acid/.

The volume of sick marine mammals has also had a financial impact on the MMCC.

“Our team is working heroically to respond to every call and to rescue every animal they can. Please share this post and give now at marinemammalcare.org/donate to give these marine mammals a second chance at life!” the MMCC stated.

Anyone who encounters a sick or stranded marine mammal can alert the nearest lifeguard and call 1-800-39-WHALE to make a report.