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Trump indictment would be unprecedented moment in U.S. history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

The decision whether to indict former President Donald Trump over hush-money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign lies in the hands of a Manhattan grand jury that has been hearing evidence in secret for weeks.An indictment of Trump, who is seeking the White House again in 2024, would be an unprecedented moment in American history, the first criminal case against a former U.S. president.Law enforcement officials are bracing for protests and the possibility of violence after Trump called on his supporters to protest ahead of a possible indictment.An indictment could also test a Republican Party already divided over whether to support Trump next year, in part due to his efforts to undermine his 2020 election loss.Trump denies any wrongdoing and has slammed the Manhattan district attorney’s office probe as politically motivated.Here’s a look at the hush-money probe, grand jury process and possible ramifications for his presidential campaign:WHAT&...

LAUSD strike looms: Resources for students, parents available

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

Barring an 11th-hour deal, hundreds of thousands of families are bracing for school closures as union employees in the Los Angeles Unified School District plan to go on a three-day strike over wages starting Tuesday.The strike is expected to last from March 21 –23.While many parents worry that the potential school closures will leave them without reliable childcare during the workweek, the school district and Los Angeles County have announced multiple resource efforts to help parents.LAUSD ResourcesWebinar: LAUSD parents were encouraged to join a Zoom webinar at 5:30 p.m. on Monday to learn more about the resources available to them. The Zoom ID is 867 1125 7296 and no passcode is required.Student Supervision: Free student supervision will be provided at select elementary, middle and high schools from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the three-day strike period. A complete list of the schools offering can be found here.Meal Pickup: Families can also pick up meals for students at Grab & G...

Another storm takes aim at rain-soaked Southern California; winds expected to topple trees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

There’s no other way to put it. Another storm is about to hit Southern California.The latest atmospheric river is forecast to bring heavy rain, mountain snow, and potentially damaging wind gusts beginning late Monday night through Wednesday.The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for a wide swath of Southern California from the Mexico border to San Luis Obispo County and the southern half of California’s Central Valley. Winter storm warnings have been issued for mountains in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Interactive Storm Radar NWS is forecasting one to three inches of rain for coastal areas and valleys through Wednesday with 3-6 inches possible in the lower mountains and foothills.“Snow levels will be particularly low, starting at 6,000 feet but dropping to 3,500 to 4,000 feet by Wednesday morning,” said KTLA weather anchor Kacey Montoya.Flood, wind, and winter storm advisories for the storm moving into Southern California. March 20, 2023. (KTLA)Peak wind g...

Hospital seeks public’s help identifying male patient found in Los Angeles County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

Officials at Los Angeles County’s Harbor-UCLA Medical Center are asking for the public’s help in identifying a male adult patient who is unable to identify himself or his family.  The patient, identified only as a Latino male in his 30s, was found in San Pedro on March 4 and taken to the hospital without identification.  He is described as approximately 5 foot 3 inches tall, weighing about 148 pounds, with black curly hair, a mustache and goatee and dark-colored eyes. The patient has a slim build with no visible tattoos.  An unidentified male patient seen in a photo provided by Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Mar. 20, 2023.The nature of his illness or injury was not disclosed due to patient privacy rules.  Anyone with information on the man’s identity is urged to contact Harbor-UCLA hospital staff at 424-306-6851. 

UN climate report gives stark warning: World on ‘thin ice’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

By Seth Borenstein and Frank Jordans | Associated PressBERLIN — Humanity still has a chance, close to the last, to prevent the worst of climate change’s future harms, a top United Nations panel of scientists said Monday.But doing so requires quickly slashing nearly two-thirds of carbon pollution by 2035, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said. The United Nations chief said it more bluntly, calling for an end to new fossil fuel exploration and for rich countries to quit coal, oil and gas by 2040.“Humanity is on thin ice — and that ice is melting fast,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. “Our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once.”Stepping up his pleas for action on fossil fuels, Guterres called for rich countries to accelerate their target for achieving net zero emissions to as early as 2040, and developing nations to aim for 2050 — about a decade earlier than most current targets....

San Jose State falls to Radford in CBI to end resurgent season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

San Jose State saw an important season of growth in its men’s college basketball program come to a disappointing end in a hail of missed shots Monday, falling 67-57 to Radford in the College Basketball Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla.The Spartans, seeded No. 2, led by as many as eight points in the first half, fell behind early in the second half and were within 47-46 with 8:57 left before seeing the No. 10 Highlanders pull away down the stretch.San Jose State ends its season at 21-14 one year after finishing 8-23 under coach Tim Miles, the Mountain West Coach of the Year. The Highlanders, from Radford, Va., and members of the Big South, are also 21-14 and play in the semifinals at the Ocean Center Tuesday night.“We missed a lot of layups and in a low-possession, one-and-done tournament those are critical errors,” Miles said. “We didn’t play our best at the big moments. These guys accomplished a whole bunch all season but tonight there were too many ...

Letters:

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

East Bay Times Letters to the Editor for March 21, 2023

In Trump probe, NY grand jury hears from potential last witness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

By Eric Tucker and Michael R. Sisak | Associated PressNEW YORK — A grand jury heard from a potential final witness Monday in the investigation into Donald Trump as law enforcement officials accelerated security preparations in advance of a possible indictment and as fellow Republicans staked out positions in a criminal probe expected to shake up the 2024 presidential race.The testimony from Robert Costello, a lawyer who had a falling out with the key government witness in the Trump investigation, came as the grand jury that for months has been investigating Trump over hush money paid to a porn star during his 2016 campaign appeared to be wrapping up its work.Costello was invited to appear after saying he had information raising questions about the credibility of Michael Cohen, a key witness in the investigation who has already appeared multiple times before the grand jury. Costello’s testimony was expected to give the former president an indirect opportunity to make a case tha...

Union-backed bill would make it harder for industries to seek voter veto on new laws

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

A bill backed by labor unions and environmental groups would make it harder for industries to subject recently passed legislation to voter approval.The bill, AB 421 by Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Culver City, would make it more difficult to qualify referendums or similar ballot measures that overturn parts of recently passed legislation by requiring some signature gatherers be unpaid volunteers and requiring that information about who is paying for the petitions be disclosed.“In recent years, we’ve seen some of tools of our democracy subverted from their original intent,” Bryan, who chairs the Assembly Elections Committee, said at a news conference Monday announcing his bill. “Direct democracy is supposed to be the people’s check on corruption and bias in our government; but over the years we have seen increasing abuse of the referendum process.”Joined by union and environmental leaders, Bryan said they were frustrated by industries that successful...

Miami Beach struggles with big spring break crowds, violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:32 GMT

By David Fischer and Curt Anderson | Associated PressMIAMI BEACH, Fla. — For the third year in a row, Miami Beach finds itself struggling with spring break violence, including two fatal shootings and unruly crowds, despite a massive police presence and activities designed to give people alternatives to drinking alcohol and roaming the streets.The party-all-the-time vibe in the South Beach section of the popular barrier island city has already led officials to ban alcohol sales at larger clubs after 2 a.m. Police are stationed everywhere, including in mobile towers that give officers a birds-eye view of the streets. Art, music, yoga and volleyball tournaments were added this year to give people something to do, at least during the day.Yet the violence and street chaos continues at night. All night.The city imposed an overnight curfew that ended Monday morning but decided at a City Commission meeting not to enact a second curfew next weekend, when the Ultra Music Festival will draw th...