Home Care In Jones, LA

Although reports this month from The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue indicated that the L.A. Rams were working on an extension with linebacker Ernest Jones, general manager Les Snead contradicted those rumors on Monday by saying that the team is prioritizing “additions” over a new deal for Jones. Per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, the Rams plan for Ernest Jones to play 2024 on the final year of his rookie contract.

Rams GM Les Snead said the plan is for Ernest Jones to play the 2024 season on the final year of his rookie deal instead of signing him to a contract extension."We prioritized spending our resources on additions rather than re-signing from within," Snead said.

— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) March 25, 2024

Jones, a third round pick in 2021, has slowly worked his way up from being a part-time to full-time linebacker in the past three seasons. He had 934 snaps on defense in 2023, recording 145 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, six passes defensed, and six QB hits.

He doesn’t turn 25 until November and this will be his first season—as all defensive players—working with defensive coordinator Chris Shula since the departure of Raheem Morris to Atlanta.

A rare top-end linebacker contract pays about $18-$20 million per season, whereas the top linebacker in free agency this year, Patrick Queen, only got $13.66 million per season from the Steelers. The position is going in a similar direction as safety and running back. This could make extending Jones difficult, as the team would likely ask him to make $12 million per season and Jones would likely bank on himself as a player who could make $18 million per season if he hit free agency in 2025. If that is the case, it’s such a wide gap that Snead might as well confirm that Jones isn’t going to be extended.

This is one of two reasons why the Rams might be expected to pick a linebacker in the first three rounds of the 2024 draft, the other being that Christian Rozeboom is L.A.’s other starter.

It can be tricky to put much faith in rumors and unconfirmed reports, as those sources could come from the team or the agent or the player himself and may have other agendas besides detailing what’s happening behind the scenes. In front of the scenes, Snead says the report is not true.

In this Transforming Los Angeles blog series, we’re delving into the people, projects and initiatives that are shaping the future of Los Angeles. Learn more about the intricacies of creating interconnected infrastructure that delivers social value for a more cohesive, inclusive, and sustainable urban environment.

Nancy Jones is a senior project architect based in Los Angeles, California in the United States. She leads the design and sustainability efforts for Intuit Dome, integrating eco-friendly solutions. Boasting over 30 years’ expertise, her passion transforms the vision of clients like the LA Clippers into reality, shaping the company’s legacy.

I began my professional journey more than three decades ago, initially working with a sole proprietor architect who specialized in crafting custom homes in Santa Barbara, California. I then worked in several other places in San Francisco and Los Angeles before joining DMJM (now AECOM) and I’ve been with AECOM for over 28 years now. I’ve served in many varied roles including the technologies manager overseeing computer-aided design (CAD) and visualization for the LA Architecture and Interiors practices, a scoping documents architect consulting for LA County public works projects and a construction administration architect providing services for LAX World Airports on the second level roadway projects involving the installation of new canopies and sculptural light poles/ribbon as part of a broader effort to enhance infrastructure in the airport vicinity.

Currently, I’m a senior project architect based onsite at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. My role is providing direct in-field architectural support and construction administration services for the arena which will be the new home of the LA Clippers basketball team. As the full-time day-to-day contact member of the design team, I work daily alongside the owner’s representatives, the construction management team, and contractors. I bring history and experience to the jobsite as I have been involved with the project since the design development phase and through construction documents from managing the team focused on the exterior shell structure/facades of the arena.

2. How is Intuit Dome responding to the vision and aspiration the LA Clippers has for their new home?

Working on Intuit Dome is an inspiring experience. The owner’s vision to provide the Clippers with their very own iconic home has been a driving force for our entire team. This enthusiasm and clear aspirations to make LA home have motivated us to do a great job. We have great interaction with the client project management team, meeting regularly and conducting site visits. Currently, our AECOM’s sports architecture practice is still fully engaged in refining every detail to meet client expectations, with support of professionals from interiors and consultant engineering teams. Witnessing instant progress has been immensely satisfying. Despite the project’s complexity, seeing it come together gradually is truly rewarding.

I studied Urban Design in graduate school at UCLA and this has influenced my approach to the project. I am inspired by the potential of this project to make a significant civic contribution, integrating seamlessly into the surrounding urban fabric. Situated near the NFL’s SoFi Stadium, Intuit Dome has become another vital piece in connecting and revitalizing this neighborhood. The vibrant atmosphere in the area, with events at SoFi Stadium, the Forum, and the upcoming adjacent complex, highlights the ongoing transformation. Looking ahead, as we move toward 2024 and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, our work on Intuit Dome is not just about building an arena — it’s about expanding Los Angeles and contributing to the city’s interconnectivity.

3. Sustainability has been a major factor in the design of Intuit Dome, what are the eco-friendly aspects that have been integrated into the building’s design and construction?

Sustainability has been at the core of our design and construction process for Intuit Dome. In addition to the goal of attaining LEED Certification, right from the early phases of design, a tremendous amount of care and study were conducted to integrate eco-friendly elements into the building. Our approach involved comprehensive thermal energy modeling, facades analysis, lighting assessments, and wind studies carried out by our High-Performance Buildings and Facades engineering teams.

By the thermal envelope definitions, everything from the engineering of the systems to color and material selections is affected. For instance, the sheerness and the density of the PTFE membrane, the silvery mesh material on the grid shell outside structure, affects the light transmission, which then affects the cooling needs and mechanical loads. This directly translates into system capacity, equipment space requirements, and weather proofing. We also investigated the details of glazing transmission levels and the functional layout of the office building, exploring options for open-air ventilation and insulation. Subsequently these elements influence program space allocation, illustrating the intricate interconnectedness of every aspect in the design.

Our concept of sustainability extends beyond the physical structure. We also assessed how Intuit Dome would integrate into its surrounding site and impact the broader Los Angeles region. This holistic perspective is vital. We considered its relationships with adjacent venues, its connectivity to LAX, and how it fits into the future landscape, including its role in events like the Olympics. Sustainability, for us, is not just a feature — it’s a comprehensive strategy that encompasses both the immediate environment and its long-term contributions to the community and the city.

Working on Intuit Dome has been an incredible journey. We’re due to open in Fall 2024 and I’m incredibly proud of my role in taking the project from its initial documentation stages through to the advanced construction phase.

Originally published Dec 8, 2023

Author: Nancy Jones

The Los Angeles Rams have started talks on a contract extension with middle linebacker Ernest Jones, according to a report by The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue:

Inside linebacker Ernest Jones is a candidate for an early extension and preliminary talks have begun, multiple sources briefed on those conversations said, but there isn’t a rush here from either side. The Rams usually do those types of deals after OTAs, or into training camp.

Los Angeles selected Jones in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He contributed as a rookie to LA’s historic victory in Super Bowl LVI, including a forced incompletion on fourth down against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Jones took a back seat in his second season when the Rams signed veteran Bobby Wagner, though he took over the defensive play calling duties in 2023.

Jones has carved out a key role on the Rams’ defense as a run stuffer and plus interior pass rusher. His pass coverage skills could be holding him back from being discussed in the same conversation as the Fred Warner’s (49ers) and Roquan Smith’s (Ravens) of the world.

The Rams are seemingly choosing Jones as a building block on their defense beyond 2024 and are potentially showing a financial commitment that they traditionally have not made to off-ball linebackers. The team historically wraps up any contract extensions for players on existing contracts around training camp, so it could be some time before we hear an update between Jones and the Rams.

Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson are parents.

The pair of British performers, who are engaged, reportedly welcomed their first child together. The baby news broke Tuesday when the Daily Mail published photos of “Tenet” star Pattinson, 37, and “Daisy Jones and the Six” actor Waterhouse, 32, taking a walk in Los Angeles while he pushed a stroller.

Representatives for Pattinson and Waterhouse did not respond immediately to The Times’ request for confirmation Wednesday.

Entertainment & Arts

Nov. 20, 2023

The couple quietly welcomed their baby (whose name and date of birth have not been revealed), four months after Waterhouse announced during a Mexico City concert that she was a mother-to-be. In November, the “Good Looking” singer told fans, “I decided to wear something particularly sparkly today” to distract from her baby bump.

After her crowd cheered, Waterhouse joked, “I’m not sure if it’s working.”

Since then, Waterhouse had leaned into her pregnancy, showing off her bump in promotional material for her music and at the 2024 Emmy Awards, where she donned a revealing, bright red Valentino gown.

The quiet arrival of Waterhouse and Pattinson’s baby also comes months after People confirmed in December that the stars are headed down the aisle. The duo reportedly began dating in 2018 and have been spotted together at a number of high-profile events in recent years, including the 2023 Met Gala in New York City.

Despite their public appearances, Waterhouse and Pattinson have kept their romance relatively private. When the Sunday Times asked Pattinson in 2019 why he prefers to keep his relationship away from the public eye, the “Lighthouse” actor responded, “If you let people in, it devalues what love is.”

He added: “If a stranger on the street asked you about your relationship, you’d think it extremely rude. If you put up a wall, it ends up better. I can’t understand how someone can walk down the street holding hands, and it’s the same as when I do it and a hundred people are taking your photo. The line between when you’re performing and when you’re not will eventually get washed away and you’ll go completely mad.”

Former Times staff writer Jonah Valdez contributed to this report.

The Los Angeles Rams entered this season expecting big things from linebacker Ernest Jones, and he's delivered.

Through six games, Jones leads the Rams in tackles (63) and is tied with defensive tackle Aaron Donald for the team lead in tackles for loss (eight). Both of those marks rank tied for fourth across the NFL.

But entering this week's contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jones' status was uncertain. He's been battling a knee injury and didn't participate in practice Wednesday before being limited Thursday and Friday.

Like last week, Jones is officially listed as questionable - but also like last week, he's poised to suit up Sunday, according to coach Sean McVay.

"He's made good progress," McVay said. "He'll be listed as questionable but expect him to go."

The 23-year-old Jones has taken over as the leader in the middle of Los Angeles’ defense, serving as the green dot and top communicator.

Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris heaped praise on Jones, noting he's "done the most when it comes to coach to player communication."

Following in the footsteps of eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner, expectations were high for Jones, a third-round pick in 2021 who enjoyed a breakout campaign alongside Wagner last season.

In his first two seasons, Jones played in 32 games with 18 starts, collecting 175 tackles and five tackles for loss. He's already eclipsed his total for career tackles for loss and is on pace to reach 178 total tackles, also bettering his career mark.

Perhaps most impressive, Jones has maintained his high level of play while battling through what Morris described as typical in-season body pains - and his toughness, leadership and production has created exactly the profile the Rams hoped for.

"I couldn't say enough good things about what Ernest has done for us and what he's going to continue to do," Morris said.

And now, with McVay's statement, Jones appears poised to continue producing when the Rams host the Steelers at 1:05 p.m. PST inside SoFi Stadium.