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Lawyer for man charged in Jewish demonstrator's death fires back

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

The man accused of causing the death of pro-Israel demonstrator Paul Kessler did not intend to kill him, according to the Ventura County District Attorney, who addressed the filing of charges on Friday.Kessler, 69, who is Jewish, died after suffering a head injury in an altercation at dueling demonstrations surrounding the Israel-Hamas war in Thousand Oaks on Nov. 5. Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, 50, a professor at Moorpark College, was arrested Thursday and charged with involuntary manslaughter and battery causing serious bodily injury. He pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance on Friday.Loay Alnaji is shown in a Nov. 5, 2023, photo taken by RMG News."We took this case seriously and we investigated and charged it thoroughly," said Ventura County D.A. Erik Nasarenko at a news conference. "We approached it with an open mind. We were not pre-committed to a specific outcome or even criminal culpability, and we never treated the fact that criminal charges would be a foregone c...

Viral Chargers superfan receives line of novelty bobbleheads

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

The New York Jets have Fireman Ed; the Raiders have enshrined Wayne "The Violator" Mabry; and the Kansas City Chiefs have Taylor Swift.But no one in the world of NFL superfans has captivated America this season more than Los Angeles Chargers diehard Merrianne Do, who went viral earlier this year for her animated and enthusiastic expressions captured by camera on Monday Night Football.In a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, cameras captured Do experiencing the wide range of emotions that come hand-in-hand with fandom. Her genuine and relatable reactions to the highs and lows of a high-stakes game made the longtime season ticket holder an overnight viral sensation.Earlier this year, Do told KTLA that she has been a Chargers fan for 20 years and regularly makes it on the jumbotron. But her debut in front of a worldwide audience raised questions about her authenticity and sent the CVS pharmacist on a nationwide media blitz to tell her story and defend her credentials.Now, a month after b...

1 Hospitalized after Pedestrian Crash on East Bidwell Street [Folsom, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

One Injured in Pedestrian Collision near Oak Avenue ParkwayFOLSOM, CA (November 17, 2023) – Monday night, a pedestrian sustained injuries in a pedestrian collision on East Bidwell Street and Oak Avenue Parkway.Police officers responded to the scene around 9:30 p.m., after receiving multiple dispatch calls. Per reports, the unidentified driver of a vehicle struck a pedestrian in the area.At this time, further circumstances leading up to the collision remain unclear. Medical personnel later transported the victim to a nearby hospital for further treatment.In addition, the involved driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Following preliminary duties, police do not suspect drugs or alcohol to be a factor in the collision. Once available, further details will be provided.Operating a vehicle is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. Always do your part to avoid distractions and look out for pedestrians at all times. If you’re crossing the stre...

How Screenwriter and Top Indie Author Reenita Is Reinventing Indian Humor and Culture In America  

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

These days there’s no lack of good books to read. The trick is finding a way to sort through them for the best ones!Here at IndieReader, our job is to recommend the best self-published, hybrid, and small press books. Those that receive a rating of 4-5 stars (the top being 5 stars) are deemed IndieReader Approved.Find out more about an author who meets that criteria.Reenita’s story begins with a childhood dream in India, where she harbored ambitions of becoming a writer. “If you asked my ten-year-old self what I wanted to be when I grow up, my answer was always, I will be a writer of books,” she recalls. Growing up in a business-centric, conservative family and a society that didn’t highly regard professions in storytelling, her aspirations seemed like a distant reality. Despite these cultural and familial constraints, Reenita’s passion for writing and storytelling never waned.Her professional journey saw her delving into various roles–from marketing to ...

1 Killed in Semi-Truck Collision on Wheeler Ridge Road [Bakersfield, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

One Occupant Pronounced Dead after Multi-Vehicle Crash near Herring RoadBAKERSFIELD, CA (November 17, 2023) – On Monday afternoon, a fatal collision occurred on Wheeler Ridge Road, resulting in the loss of one individual’s life. The incident unfolded around 3:18 p.m. near Herring Road on November 13th, when officers responded to the scene.According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the driver of a northbound Ford truck attempted to pass a Chevrolet ahead by crossing the double yellow lines. This maneuver led to a collision with a southbound 2015 Freightliner, which was hauling two empty flatbed trailers. The impact caused the Ford to lose control and collide with the left side of the Chevrolet. Subsequently, the Chevy veered off the road and came to a stop on a nearby dirt shoulder. Emergency personnel who arrived at the scene pronounced the Ford driver dead. As of now, the identity of the deceased remains undisclosed to the public. Simultaneously, paramedics trans...

The Don’t Wait for Green Wednesday List

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

A lot of the heat will be gone by the time Green Wednesday arrives, that’s a promise.At its core, Green Wednesday is appealing particularly to those aiming to treat their grandmothers to THC-infused gummies on Thanksgiving. Look out for my upcoming Green Wednesday list; I’ll have it ready next week.But let’s refocus on our community—the enthusiasts on the quest for the most exceptional quality. We’re not about to risk approaching Turkey Day without securing a few of the most potent strains Angelinos can get their hands on. It’s part of our daily routine, no matter the distractions of dealing with Uncle Bob’s possibly anticapitalist behavior while asking him to pass the cranberry sauce.And the idea of waiting until Wednesday? Absolutely not. The real premium stuff will likely have vanished by then, snatched up by early birds that knew they would need some real hitters to deal with the family. Even worse about waiting? Around 80% of the deals on Gre...

Letters: Cost of inaction | Freeway fire | Administration’s failure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Freeway fire willforce changes in L.A.The I-10 fire and shutdown in Los Angeles reminds me of the I-80/880/580 maze fire on April 29, 2007, when a gas tanker fire collapsed two bridges. Emeryville Fire was first-in at 3:46 a.m. All fires look larger at night; from the Peninsula, the maze looked to have been nuked. Gov. Schwarzenegger declared an emergency and repairs were completed in under three weeks. Shows what happens when the government gets moving and opens the checkbook — wide.Now about the I-10 fire. No one wants to be politically incorrect to call it plainly: arson started in the homeless camp below the freeway. If the fire hasn’t already moved the campers, the repair contractor surely will. With all deliberate speed.I get the feeling the advocates for the “unhoused” won’t be standing in the way this time. Nor will any judge. That, too, would be most politically incorrect.Stephen CutrightEmeryvi...

Alameda County D.A. Pamela Price delivers fiery rebuke to critics as she launches anti-recall campaign

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

OAKLAND — In an evening marked by supporters’ well wishes and largely jovial vibes, there were certain moments during Pamela Price’s anti-recall campaign launch when the embattled district attorney channeled frustration that has built up over the past year.“Those who are trying to overturn the results of the election — they’re trying to destroy public trust,” Price, the first Black woman and progressive reformer to serve as Alameda County’s top prosecutor, told the assembled crowd. “Which means they are a threat to public safety.”Her speech, delivered privately to supporters at Thursday’s campaign launch, marked the beginning of what promises to be a broader public push to keep her job.Opponents are actively gathering petition signatures to force a recall election of Price, having raised $212,000 since July from donors that include prominent tech executives, retirees and former prosecutors.The first-time D.A.’s ...

OpenAI CEO fired, company president quits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been fired from his position, the AI company announced Friday. Altman will depart as CEO and leave the company's board of directors.Altman's ouster follows a review by the board, which concluded that he "was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities." Tesla crashes into kitchen of San Mateo home Friday morning "The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI," the company announced in a statement.Altman's removal comes one day after he spoke at an APEC forum on artificial intelligence."I loved my time at OpenAI," Altman wrote Friday in a post to his X, formerly Twitter, account. "It was transformative for me personally, and hopefully the world a little bit. Most of all I loved working with such talented people.""Will have more to say about what's next later," he added.OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati will replace Altma...

How APEC affected BART ridership numbers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- BART ridership numbers remained relatively low this week, despite the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which was expected to draw 20,000 visitors to San Francisco. In statistics published by Bay Area Rapid Transit, ridership throughout most of the week remained at less than 50% of pre-pandemic numbers.Monday had the lowest ridership with just over 150,000 exits recorded in the system -- just 37% of pre-pandemic levels. Ridership Tuesday saw a bit of an increase at 44% of pre-pandemic ridership before dipping back down on Wednesday to 43% of pre-pandemic ridership. Bay Bridge protest: Dramatic photos capture hours-long shutdown Even Thursday, when pro-Palestinian protesters shut down the Bay Bridge for several hours during the morning commute, ridership remained relatively low at 180,654 exits, or 44% of pre-pandemic numbers.With widespread reporting on street closures, transit disruptions and even two lanes of the Bay Bridge being shut down, it app...