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Sister of Denver man and her mother released by Hamas after being held hostage for nearly 2 weeks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

A Denver man’s 17-year-old sister and her mother were released by Hamas on Friday after being held hostage in Gaza for nearly two weeks.Judith and Natalie Raanan were in southern Israel celebrating Judith’s mother’s 85th birthday when the Palestinian group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing around 1,400 people and taking at least 200 people hostage.The Israel Defense Forces confirmed to The Associated Press that the mother and daughter, who live in the Chicago area, have been released.The two Americans were out of the Gaza Strip and in the hands of the Israeli military, an army spokesman said. Hamas said it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government.Ben Raanan, Natalie’s sister and Judith’s former stepson, said in a Thursday interview with The Denver Post that the two were in a kibbutz about a mile from the Gaza border when they heard gunshots and explosions on Oct. 7, according to a message ...

Suspected DUI driver charged with attempted murder after crashing into Orange County Kohl's

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

The man who crashed his vehicle into a Kohl's in Huntington Beach last week is now facing six charges for attempted murder.Tuan Miller, 54, of Anaheim, was arrested last Friday after he allegedly crashed into the front of the department store at the Bella Terra Mall.Miller fled the scene, but was later arrested, at which point it was determined he was under the influence of an undisclosed drug.On Friday, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer released new information about the crash, including that it's being investigated as an intentional act.Miller is accused plowing into a group of people who were standing outside the store and listening to a group of singers. He allegedly drove onto the sidewalk, hitting two women before revving his engine and accelerating toward three other people. One of the victims became lodged in the front of his car as it crashed through the store's glass doors.The Kohl's at the Bella Terra Mall after a truck smashed through the front of it on Oct. 1...

Orange County school board rejects parental notification proposal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

The Capistrano Unified School District, Orange County's largest, has rejected a parental notification policy that critics say could have led to students being "outed" as transgender to their families.Unlike those enacted by Orange, Chino Valley, Murrieta Valley, Temecula Valley, Placentia Yorba-Linda and other districts, Capistrano's proposal did not specifically mention gender identity.Instead, it would have required schools to notify families if a student was "exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety, a dramatic shift in academic performance, social withdrawal or other significant changes affecting a student’s well-being."When pressed on the issue during Wednesday night’s school board meeting, Trustee Lisa Davis, who proposed the policy, acknowledged that it could be applied to gender identity, the Orange County Register reported. Chino Valley school board enacts transgender notification policy “I ask for your vote to make it clear to parents and guardians that we see them as ...

‘I didn’t want anyone to get hurt’: Oakley officer describes killing man who’d fired at cops during armed standoff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

MARTINEZ — An Oakley police officer took the stand Friday and recounted the last few moments before he fired an AR-15 at an armed domestic violence suspect who’d already shot “three or four volleys” at police.These new details of the Aug. 25, 2022 shooting came during a coroner’s inquest, a procedural hearing where a jury is asked to determine the official manner of death of anyone killed by police, or in police custody, in Contra Costa County. Jurors must decide if the death was an accident, a homicide, a suicide, or by natural causes, but their decision carries no criminal nor civil liability.Officer Brett Jackson shot and killed 58-year-old Frank Correa, of Oakley, hours into an armed standoff 1800 block of Teresa Lane, which started when a woman reported Correa was driving her around town and refusing to let her leave. After arriving at the Teresa Lane home at around 10 p.m. on Aug. 24, the woman escaped while Correa locked himself inside and refuse...

San Jose’s BART extension to get oversight group after major price jump, timeline delay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

San Jose’s BART extension, one of America’s priciest transportation projects, will now be under the eye of an oversight committee after transit officials recently revealed exploding price estimates and a hindered timeline.On Friday, Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors Chairperson Pat Burt announced he was forming the group to field problems the extension encounters going forward, provide recommendations and probe the financials behind the project.“This committee will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the project,” said Burt. “And reporting back to the full (VTA) board on any and all issues that raise concern.”Burt — who as chair has the authority to form the committee — recommended himself, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmembers Dev Davis and Omar Torres, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and City of Santa Clara Councilmember Sudhanshu “Suds” Jain as its members. The transit agency&#...

Single-family residence sells in Dublin for $2.3 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

3330 Cydonia Court – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 3300 block of Cydonia Court in Dublin has new owners. The 2,946-square-foot property, built in 2012, was sold on Sept. 15, 2023, for $2,323,000, or $789 per square foot. This two-story home offers a capacious living environment with its four bedrooms and three baths. Additionally, the house features a two-car garage.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:A 2,199-square-foot home on the 3400 block of Cydonia Court in Dublin sold in December 2022, for $1,590,000, a price per square foot of $723. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Cydonia Court, Dublin, in September 2022, a 2,585-square-foot home was sold for $1,785,000, a price per square foot of $691. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In August 2023, a 2,716-square-foot home on Syrah Drive in Dublin sold for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $773. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

Editorial: House Republican dysfunction couldn’t come at a worse time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

The nation’s government is paralyzed — and it’s hard to imagine a worse time.The good news is that for the third time at least 20 brave Republicans combined with Democrats to block Rep. Jim Jordan from becoming the next speaker of the House. The nation could ill-afford an ultraconservative, Donald Trump lackey and fellow election denier from leading the lower chamber of Congress or standing second in line to succeed the president.The bad news is that the latest rejection of Jordan extended the House dysfunction for an 18th day on Friday following the unprecedented ouster of Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 3. For 2½ weeks, and counting, the nation has watched this slow-motion trainwreck.Surely, it wouldn’t last, we thought. But it’s now becoming apparent that this could go on for a long time. It’s already lasted far too long. The government again faces a shutdown if Congress can’t pass a spending bill by Nov. 17, when the short-term budget deal President Biden signed at the end of Septe...

Mailbag: The ‘Pac-2’ and the Big 12 and ACC, an alternative outcome for the Pac-12, the role of the UC regents and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

The Hotline mailbag publishes each Friday. Send questions to [email protected] and include ‘mailbag’ in the subject line. Or hit me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline.Please note: Some questions have been edited for clarity and brevity.Any truth to the talk about other conferences using remaining ‘Pac-2’ assets as a reason to invite Oregon State and Washington State? — @CelestialMoshLet’s split this question into two buckets: One that addresses the legal weeds, the other that tackles the realignment landscape.The outgoing schools are concerned about this very issue, according to a conference source. It’s one reason the ‘Pac-10’ is loath to give Washington State and Oregon State full control of the Pac-12 board.Specifically, the worry is that WSU and OSU would retain all the assets once the 10 leave next summer, then simply join  another conference — just as the outbound schools are doing.In other words, they would be no different tha...

Kenneth Chesebro: Pro-Trump lawyer pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case, implicates Trump in fake elector conspiracy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

Atlanta (CNN) — Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who helped orchestrate the Trump campaign’s 2020 fake electors plot, pleaded guilty Friday in the Georgia election subversion case to being part of a conspiracy alongside former President Donald Trump and others.The plea deal is another blow to Trump and a major victory for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who charged Trump and 18 others in the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election. It comes one day after former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell also pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Chesebro pleaded guilty to one felony – conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Fulton County prosecutors recommended that he serve 5 years of probation and pay $5,000 in restitution, and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee imposed that sentence at Friday’s hearing. Chesebro has also agreed to testify in future court proceedings.As part of his plea deal, Chesebro admitt...

2 California Hells Angels sentenced to prison in case involving murder, illegal cremation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:15 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A pair of California Hells Angels members were sentenced to prison for participating in a criminal enterprise that included the murder and illegal cremation of another Hells Angel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Friday. Jeremy Greer, 43, of the Sonoma County Hells Angels was sentenced to seven years in prison for violent crimes as part of a racketeering conspiracy. Merl Hefferman, 54, of the Fresno Hells Angels, was sentenced to four years in prison for obstruction of justice.Greer committed multiple "brutal" assaults, armed robbery, home invasion robbery and witness intimidation, according to the FBI. He also committed multiple violations of his release conditions, resulting in him being arrested again and remanded to custody. Home Depot employee allegedly embezzled $1.2m in cash: San Rafael PD Hefferman arranged the illegal cremation of former Sonoma County Hells Angels member Joel Silva after he was murdered by Fresno Hells Angels presiden...