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RFK Jr. defends himself against accusations of racism, antisemitism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

By Lisa Mascaro and Ali Swenson | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. worked to defend himself Thursday against accusations that he traffics in racist and hateful online conspiracy theories, testifying at a House hearing on government censorship despite requests from outside groups to disinvite the Democratic presidential candidate after his recent antisemitic remarks.The Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government is amplifying GOP claims that conservatives and others are being unfairly targeted by technology companies that routinely work with the government to try to stem the spread of disinformation online. Democrats argued that free speech comes with responsibilities not to spread misinformation, particularly when it fans violence.In opening remarks, Kennedy invoked his famous family’s legacy in decrying the complaints of racism and antisemitism against him.“This is an attempt to censor a censorship hearing,”...

Former Berkeley resident pleads guilty to setting 3 Lake Tahoe fires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

A former Berkeley resident pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to setting fires in the Lake Tahoe region in 2020, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of California.Douglas Gregory Edwards, 37, pleaded guilty to setting three separate fires July 5, 2020, on federal land known as the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Antioch police Chief Steven Ford to step down Crime and Public Safety | East Bay motorhome driver suspected of hitting more than two dozen cars in heavy traffic Crime and Public Safety | Skeletal remains found at UC Berkeley’s Clark Kerr Campus were those of homicide victim, police say Crime and Public Safety | Man found shot to death inside crashed vehicle on Oakland street Crime and Public Safety | Bicyclist killed in Oakland hit-and-run is identified Edwards was arrested that same afternoon one-quarter mile...

Police: Woman arrested after allegedly trying to hire hitman to kill her 3-year-old son

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

Jazmin Paez, pictured, is accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill her 3-year-old son.(Miami-Dade Corrections Department) BY WFOR WEB STAFFMIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — A woman accused of trying to hire a hit man this week to kill her 3-year-old son has bonded out of jail.Jazmin Paez, 18, of Miami, is charged with first-degree solicitation of murder and third-degree using a communications device for an unlawful use, according to court documents.Investigators said they were contacted on Tuesday by a man who operates a fake hire-an-assassin website to report that the woman had contacted the operator to arrange a murder-for-hire for the young child. According to police, the website founder created the online site to catch and curb those looking to hire a killer.Police said the suspect provided the address for the child and his picture to help facilitate the request.According to investigators, the woman asked that the job be completed by Thursday.Police traced the IP of the comp...

Senate panel OKs stronger ethics standards for Supreme Court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

By Mary Clare Jalonick | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court would have to abide by stronger ethics standards under legislation approved on Thursday by the Senate Judiciary Committee, a response to recent revelations about donor-funded trips by justices. The bill faced united opposition from Republicans, who said it could “destroy” the court.The legislation has little chance to make it through the full Senate.The panel voted along party lines to set ethics rules for the court and a process to enforce them, including new standards for transparency around recusals, gifts and potential conflicts of interest. Democrats first pushed the legislation after reports earlier this year that Justice Clarence Thomas participated in luxury vacations and a real estate deal with a top GOP donor — and after Chief Justice John Roberts declined to testify before the committee about the ethics of the court.Since then, news reports also revealed that Justice Samuel Alito had taken...

Bay Area’s hottest places to be hit with another brief heat wave

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

Triple-digit temperatures are expected to make a return engagement — albeit, a short one — to the hottest parts of the Bay Area beginning Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.They also won’t feel quite as intense as they did during a three-day stretch last weekend, forecasters said.“Overall, we’re starting to get the more consistent summer-time temperatures, so people and their bodies are having some time to adjust to it,” NWS meteorologist Sean Miller said Thursday morning. “Also with this one, we’re only going to heat up for day or two. It’s not going to stay warm at night. So it just won’t be quite as intense. It’s still gonna be hot.”A heat advisory for the far inland areas and valley areas was set to begin at 11 a.m. Friday and run through 11 p.m. Saturday.The Bay Area Air Quality Management District also extended an air advisory for the region through Thursday. The advisory Wednesday was prompted by smo...

California scores another winning ticket to a huge jackpot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

Another ticket to a huge lottery jackpot was sold in California — perhaps the luckiest state in the nation.A single ticket that matched white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24 in Wednesday’s drawing for $1.08 billion was sold at Las Palmitas Mini Market at 1205 Wall Street in Los Angeles, lottery officials said.Related ArticlesCalifornia News | $1 billion Powerball jackpot winning ticket sold in California; three Bay Area players get 5 out of 6 numbers California News | Mega Millions players win $287,200 each in Oakland and San Jose California News | Before you play in an office lottery pool, read this California News | Powerball Jackpot soars to $1 billion after no winner in Monday’s drawing California News | A $900 million jackpot is up for grabs in Monday night’s Powerball drawing That means three winners of the last 10 largest jackpots bought tickets in the Golden State. The wi...

Bay Area air quality advisory extended through Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- An air quality advisory that was issued for the Bay Area for Wednesday afternoon has been extended through Thursday, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The advisory is due to wildfire smoke from southwestern Oregon. Smoke from the Flat Fire continues to blow into the region this afternoon and evening, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which issued the advisory."Smoky, hazy skies may be visible across the Bay Area and the smell of smoke is possible at higher elevations, especially the East Bay, North Bay and Santa Clara Valley regions," the BAAQMD said. 4 Bay Area restaurants receive new Michelin stars No Spare the Air Alert has been issued however, because pollutant levels aren't expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard, BAAQMD added.The air district said it will closely monitor air quality throughout the region for smoke impact from the Flat Fire and other wildfires.If the smell of smoke is pr...

Ricciardo has plenty to smile about as he makes his F1 return at Hungarian GP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

Veteran Daniel Ricciardo has plenty to smile about after getting another shot at Formula One.The driver with the biggest grin in F1 is making a shock return for the AlphaTauri team after being released by McLaren last year. The 34-year-old Australian’s comeback starts Sunday at the Hungaroring, nestled in rolling countryside outside of Budapest, where he won for Red Bull in 2014.“It’s good to be back, it feels familiar,” Ricciardo said. “Getting back into the Red Bull family, it brings back a lot of old feelings.”The eight-time Grand Prix winner was given the F1 seat at AlphaTauri — which is Red Bull’s junior team — for the rest of 2023 after Nyck de Vries was cut last week. “Be prepared, you never know what’s going to happen,” said Ricciardo, who looked drained in the past two seasons and made the most of his break.“I went to a buddy’s bachelor party, which I’ve never done. It was a place called (Las) Vegas as well,” he said, grinning. “It gave me some time away which I felt ...

Congress grounds proposal to add flights at Reagan National Airport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

The House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to approve the FAA reauthorization bill, but an amendment to add flights at Reagan National Airport was defeated.The vote for the five-year reauthorization of the FAA was 351-69, sending the legislation on to the Senate. The FAA reauthorization legislation includes a wide range of measures aimed at improving air safety, airport infrastructure and customer service.The amendment that would have added seven round-trip flights at Reagan National Airport had bipartisan support and was sponsored by Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah.It was defeated Wednesday night on a vote of 205-229, as the House considered a series of amendments to the FAA legislation.Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who strongly opposed the amendment, took issue with those who characterized it as a compromise.At one point, as many as 28 additional round-trip flights had been proposed.But Beyer said supporters of the latest amendment never reached out to Washington-area lawmakers.“Twenty per...

What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:43:59 GMT

Here is a look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots that have been won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022 (one ticket, from California)2. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)3. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018 (one ticket, from South Carolina)4. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023 (one ticket, from Maine)5. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022 (one ticket, from Illinois)6. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023 (one ticket, from California)7. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021 (one ticket, from Michigan)8. $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019 (one ticket, from Wisconsin)9. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)10. $754.6 million, Powerball, Feb. 6, 2023 (one ticket, from Washington state)___Sources: AP archives, www.megamillions.com and www.powerball.comSource