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Police release video of shooting at Calabasas restaurant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

Warning: This video contains profanity and disturbing subject matter. We omitted footage that shows the actual shooting.Footage released on Friday shows the terror that unfolded in the streets of Woodland Hills and Calabasas when a homeless man first attacked someone with a machete and then ran into a popular restaurant where he was fatally shot by police.The incident took place on Nov. 1 when 911 dispatchers received a call from a man who said he had been attacked by another man with a machete at the McDonald's at Mulholland Drive near the 101 Freeway."I was able to get away from him, and then he kept attacking me," the victim told the 911 dispatcher.Benjamin Pritchard (LAPD)“We need to get in control of these homeless people,” he added. The man said he was not seriously hurt and did not require a paramedic. His attacker, later identified as Benjamin Pritchard, 35, had dropped the machete and was wandering through the parking lot of the busy shopping center when police arrived.Dash...

Southern California high school coach sentenced to 2 years in prison for sex crimes against student

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

A former Southern California high school coach has been sentenced after pleading guilty to one felony count of sending harmful matter to a child, the Ventura County District Attorney's office announced Friday.Aaron James Mora of Oxnard was sentenced to two years in prison and is required to register as a sex offender for life. He also admitted to “special allegations that the victim was vulnerable and that he took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offense,” a news release said.Mora, a former track coach at Oxnard’s Pacifica High School in 2022, pleaded guilty to the felony count on Oct. 17. Riverside detectives arrest two suspects involved in ‘skimming’ fraud The 25-year-old began texting an underage female student and sent inappropriate sexual images of himself to the victim, according to the attorney’s office.“It is critical that we protect children and vulnerable victims,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Edward Andrews said in a statement.“A coach is ...

The Heat Check: Las Vegas 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

It’s time for the MJBiz Con Heat Check 2022. We dug through the suits to see who had the fire in Las Vegas this year. The new dedicated smoking section made it even easier than years past and we certainly weren’t disappointed. The best part was seeing the different flavors people brought from all over!Here they are, starting with Tomi from Lineage Technologies in Canada sparking a fat blunt loaded with hash too. LA’s own Shaggy Brown had some Rainbow Sherbert x Criminally OG from the Russian Assassin Boys.Eddie from Gold Leaf Packaging in Alabama had some prerolls with flower grown out by his clients at Constellation. Adrian from Farma Farms in Bakersfield had some great White Runtz for us to look at. Doodlez New York Cuban Haze x Sour Diesel Hash Hole from @lamarinaboyz, @whiteboyKev@doodlezny and @joethehardwayss.Sequoah Turner from Source was out to show off the locals wares, some lovely Dark Rainbows.  Tony from Mateel Botanicals in Humboldt showed us a lovely bay of Z from up n...

Trump lawyer: Trial during campaign would be ‘election interference’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

By Kate Brumback | Associated PressATLANTA — An attorney for former President Donald Trump said Friday it would amount to “election interference” if his client is the Republican nominee for president while on trial in Georgia in the months running up to the general election.Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee opened the door for discussion on trial timing while considering requests by two of the former president’s co-defendants to delay certain pretrial deadlines. But he said he didn’t plan to make any immediate decisions on a trial date.District Attorney Fani Willis last month asked that all defendants remaining in the case — currently Trump and 14 others — be tried together beginning Aug. 5. Prosecutors have previously estimated it would take them four months to present their case, not including jury selection. That would mean the trial would be underway during the final months of the election campaign.“Can you imagine the notion of the Re...

Letters: Shameful resolution | Boon for PG&E

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Oakland’s one-sidedresolution shamefulRe: “Council passes a cease-fire resolution” (Page B1, Nov. 29).Shame, for Shame that the Oakland City Council rebuked Israel’s bombing of Gaza, but didn’t mention Hamas’ murder of 1200 Israelis and kidnapping of 240 hostages.Shame, for shame that the resolution calls for a cease-fire, but didn’t mention that cease-fire existed until Oct. 7, when Hamas initiated its brutal attack.Shame, for shame that Oakland’s resolution blames only Israel for thousands of Gazans’ deaths, but didn’t mention that Hamas purposefully located its military equipment and command centers in and near schools, hospitals and residential buildings specifically to use civilians as human shields.Shame, for shame that the resolution failed to acknowledge Hamas’ intent was to cause damage to its own people in an attempt to generate ...

Annette Bening said Gavin Newsom made this ‘reprehensible’ decision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

If Gavin Newsom does one day run for president, he might have trouble getting support from Annette Bening and her husband Warren Beatty, even though the “Bonnie and Clyde” star is one of Hollywood’s most famous Democrats.In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Bening thought that the California governor did something “reprehensible” during the recent, months-long actors and writers strikes.Members of SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America backed legislation that would give unemployment benefits to workers on strike. But in late September, Newsom rejected the bill.California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on February 1, 2023 in Sacramento, Calif. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) “Gavin Newsom famously didn’t go along with that. I find that reprehensible,” said Bening, a four-time Oscar nominee, who stars in the new biopic “Nyad,” which is streaming on Netflix.Newsom, a Democrat, said he supports work...

CHP officer details Highway 4 chase that ended with woman dying in fiery crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

MARTINEZ — A California Highway Patrol officer took the stand Friday and recounted chasing a woman driving eastbound on Highway 4, then watching her speed off the freeway and rear-end a commercial truck in a crash that killed her.Officer Darius Rackley, a motorcycle cop for CHP, testified at an inquest hearing that in the moments after watching 31-year-old Pittsburg resident Elsy Zapien-Vasquez rear-end a large, green transport truck, he went from attempting to arrest her to trying to save her life as the engine to the SUV caught fire. Rackley attempted to smash out a window from the SUV and used a fire extinguisher from a good Samaritan to try and put out the blaze, he testified.Despite the efforts, Zapien-Vasquez died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, including damage to her spleen, kidneys, lungs and massive internal bleeding, pathologist Dr. Ikechi Ogan testified Friday. Zapien-Vasquez suffered third-degree burns and her blood showed signs she̵...

Letters: Essential goals | Recall reform | Gas stoves | Splitting hairs | Arts classes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Mahan making goodon essential goalsRe: “Beautifying city’s key gateways with trees” (Page B1, Nov. 30).The acceptance speeches are over and I still see Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose remaining focused on his essential goals to improve the city.He isn’t a politician who shakes a few hands, poses for pictures, says a few words and moves on with his agenda.Weekly I read articles or see news clips of him planting trees, cleaning litter or supporting efforts for the unhoused in San Jose.He continues to focus on the core principles that he campaigned on for a better San Jose. As John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Thank you Mayor Matt Mahan for your leadership.Lorie RizzoSan JoseGet realtors on boardwith gas stove dangerRe: “Gas stoves are poisoning us; how the industry hid the dan...

Ike's Sandwiches offers to change name if Shohei Ohtani signs with SF Giants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

(KRON) -- Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani is arguably the most-coveted free agent in MLB history. The two-way superstar is predicted to land the most lucrative contract in league history.A popular Bay Area sandwich chain is joining in on the bidding. Ike's Love & Sandwiches is offering to change its name if Ohtani signs with the San Francisco Giants, the business owner said on a social media post this week. If Ohtani is wearing a Giants uniform in 2024, Ike's Love & Sandwiches will be renamed to "Shohei's Love & Sandwiches."Ohtani will also be offered free Ike's sandwiches for life if he signs with San Francisco. 49ers QB Brock Purdy reveals his In-N-Out order Ike's also made a free-sandwiches-for-life offer to Aaron Judge last year, which didn't work as Judge re-signed with the Yankees. Many of Ike's menu items are already named after San Francisco Giants legends such as Madison Bumgarner, Barry Bonds, Matt Cain and Hunter Pence. According to Fox Sports, Giants arch...

Taylor Swift No. 1 most streamed artist of 2023 on Spotify

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:57 GMT

(KRON) -- Spotify announced that Taylor Swift is this year’s most streamed artist, with more than 26.1 billion global streams since January 1.Based on Spotify’s pay per stream being an estimated $0.0035, Swift earned a staggering $91,350,000 in 2023 from the streaming platform alone, according to a data analysis by Vegas Gems. Swift's streams bumped Bad Bunny down to Spotify's No. 2 most streamed artist. The Puerto Rican Latin music sensation held the top spot for the past three years.Spotify's annual Wrapped wrote, "Musically, 2023 was defined by the return of major female pop stars, sonic diversity that topped the charts, and a global music atmosphere that gave rise to powerful genres."Miley Cyrus can buy herself flowers to celebrate singing the most-streamed song of the year. Spotify reported "Flowers" was streamed 1.6 billion times globally.Swift's streaming success was further catapulted by her world tour. The pop superstar had an incredibly successful year with "The Eras Tour,...