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‘He was a victim of an unprovoked ambush’: Murder count dismissed in East Bay freeway shooting that killed 1-year-old boy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

OAKLAND — After an intense court hearing that spanned nearly a month, an Alameda Superior Court judge dismissed murder charges against one of three Bay Area men accused of causing a rolling gun battle on Interstate 880 that led to 1-year-old Jasper Wu being shot and killed by a stray bullet.Judge Scott Patton ruled Wednesday that the evidence against Richmond resident Johnny Jackson was not enough to meet even the burden of proof presented in preliminary hearings, where prosecutors must merely establish probable cause in order for the case to proceed. It is a low bar that requires only a “strong inference” of guilt, far less than the reasonable doubt standard jurors are given at criminal trials.While dismissing all but a single felony gun possession count against Jackson, the judge upheld murder and gang charges against Trevor Green, 22, of Richmond; and Ivory Bivins, 24, of Vallejo, ruling that there was enough evidence tying both men to the Nov. 6, 2021 freeway s...

Larry Magid: Pixel 7A gives you more than you pay for

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

You know that adage, “you get what you pay for.” Well, it’s not always true. With Google’s new Pixel 7A phone, you get more than you pay for, compared with other phones.Related ArticlesBusiness | Magid: AI has risks but can also make us safer Business | Larry Magid: Google unveils new devices while focusing on AI Business | Larry Magid: Voice cloning makes virtual kidnapping more convincing Business | The caller said he’d kidnapped my wife. Here’s what I did wrong then. At $499, the 6.1-inch Pixel 7A is $100 less than the 6.3-inch Pixel 7 and $400 less than the 6.7-inch Pixel Pro. In terms of screen size, the 7A is more than big enough. It fits in my hand better than the 7 and the 7 Pro. The 7A is bigger and a lot less expensive than the iPhone 14, which starts at $799. It’s also less expensive than most Samsung phones. Size is only one of several things to consider when buying ...

BART introduces anime mascots to try and attract youth riders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The Bay Area Rapid Transit System has introduced a group of Bay Area-themed anime mascots. The five mascots are part of the transit system's effort to attract riders back, especially younger riders, according to a news release the transit agency put out this week.The five anime characters are "inspired by BART frontline employees and BART-contracted animals," like "Pac-Man the Harris hawk and the goats that graze BART property," BART said. "Pac-Man" is the name of a Harris hawk the transit system has deployed to scare away pigeons. Honolulu-bound flight from SFO turns back due to possible rudder issue The anime mascots also "contain numerous details highlighting the tight-knit connections between BART and the Bay Area."The mascots were also inspired by public transportation agencies in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where it's common to use anime mascots to connect with riders. The mascots were chosen from an open call for California-based artists BART put ...

UK police lift cordon after car crashes into Downing Street; counterterrorism officers not involved in investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

LONDON (AP) — UK police lift cordon after car crashes into Downing Street; counterterrorism officers not involved in investigation.Source

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers surprise commencement speech to Johns Hopkins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — During a surprise commencement address to graduates of Johns Hopkins University on Thursday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told them to take advantage of the time and resources they have to pursue their passions and uphold the democratic values at stake in his country’s war against Russia. He spoke via livestream from Ukraine, where the ongoing conflict has impacted the futures of countless young Ukrainians, robbing them of opportunities and loved ones, Zelenskyy said. He told Hopkins graduates to make the most of every moment. “Time is the most valuable resource on the planet,” he said. “Some people realize this sooner, and these are the lucky ones. Others realize it too late, when they lose someone or something.”He also thanked U.S. leaders for their support since the Russian invasion, including significant investments in humanitarian and military aid.President Joe Biden announced last week an agreement between the United States and European nati...

As South Carolina governor signs new law, abortion restrictions strain providers in US South

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A wave of newly approved abortion restrictions in the Southeastern United States has sent providers scrambling to reconfigure their services for a region with already severely limited access.South Carolina joined the Southern states putting stiff restrictions on the procedure Thursday when the governor signed a bill banning most abortions around six weeks of pregnancy, setting up an anticipated legal challenge from providers. The law goes into effect immediately.“This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed,” Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement. Pending bans at varying stages of pregnancy in North Carolina and Florida — states that had been holdouts providing wider access to the procedure — are threatening to further delay abortions as appointments pile up and doctors work to understand the new limitation...

Republican Karrin Taylor Robson says she won’t run for Sinema’s Senate seat in Arizona

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Karrin Taylor Robson, a wealthy Republican businessperson who was seen as the likeliest establishment candidate for a crucial Arizona Senate contest, said Thursday that she won’t run for the seat now held by independent Kyrsten Sinema.Robson ran for governor last year but lost the GOP primary to Kari Lake, a Donald Trump ally and darling of his Make America Great Again movement. Lake went on to lose the general election to Democrat Katie Hobbs and said this week she is considering a run for Senate. The Arizona Senate race is a pickup opportunity for the GOP, but many traditional Republicans worry Lake, who would be the clear front-runner in a GOP primary, can’t win a general election.Sinema left the Democratic Party last year. She is raising money for a potential campaign but has not said whether she will seek a second term, a decision that could set up a complicated three-way contest. U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego is the only major Democratic candidate in the r...

Video: el dramático momento en que se derrumba parte de un edificio en llamas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

SÍDNEY, Australia – Un edificio de siete pisos en un céntrico vecindario de la ciudad australiana de Sídney se incendió este jueves provocando el colapso de una de sus gigantescas paredes en una calle aledaña, sin causar víctimas mortales ni heridos graves.Las imágenes captadas por el Servicio de Incendios y Rescate del estado de Nueva Gales del Sur mostraron la dramática caída de una de las paredes del edificio, así como algunos vehículos quemados, mientras las tomas aéreas divulgadas por los medios de comunicación local daban cuenta de las gigantescas lenguas de fuego en una estructura totalmente destruida.Un portavoz del Servicio de Incendios y Rescate del estado de Nueva Gales del Sur dijo en una rueda de prensa en Sídney que el incendio — cuyo humo se vio desde varios puntos de la ciudad — ya fue controlado, aunque tomó varias horas para aplacar las llamas. “Yo no creo en la Virgen”: la captan en video incendiando una capilla de la Guadalupe ...

When will Casa Bonita open? Theories suggest this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The highly-anticipated grand reopening of the Casa Bonita restaurant has yet to be announced as May nears the end.When “South Park” aired an episode highlighting the restaurant in 2003, it launched the restaurant’s reputation as an iconic Denver destination. Casa Bonita will open in May, but when? It first opened around 1974, and hasn’t been open since the spring of 2020, then the previous owners of Casa Bonita filed for bankruptcy in April of 2021 By September, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of “South Park”, entered into a purchase agreement to buy Casa Bonita.Throughout this year, the restaurant has been releasing teaser images of some of the work that was done inside, and this month it released a series of GIFs that show painting and other finishing touches. The fountain outside the restaurant also underwent reconstruction, but as of March this year there was water in it - a sign that an opening was nearly upon us. Photos show renovations of Ca...

Denver mayoral candidates discuss school safety

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The safety of students has been a top priority for many. Parents in Denver are especially concerned about this given the shootings taking place at or near East High School this year where two students died and two administrators were hurt in separate incidents of gun violence.It is another complex issue facing the city's next leader.No one wants students to fear for their lives while learning, but what's the right answer? For these two candidates, it comes down to keeping kids busy and away from guns.Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston both want to see a change in the city's relationship with public schools. Denver mayoral candidates discuss their plans for public safety Brough said she wants to bring back an initiative the city used to utilize for years."When I was chief of staff to John Hickenlooper, we really partnered with Denver Public Schools. We had what we called a City-School Coordinating Committee. I would reinstate that committee where the school board, city ...