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California ranchers intentionally violated an emergency water order. Now lawmakers want to triple the fines

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

When ranchers violated an emergency order to stop pumping water from the drought-plagued Shasta River last year, state officials fined them $4,000, or roughly $50 each. Now California legislators are weighing a bill that would triple fines for such infractions — and could allow the penalty to climb higher than a million dollars.Authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, a Democrat from San Ramon, the bill cleared the Assembly in a 43 to 20 vote last week and is now awaiting discussion in Senate committees.The proposed legislation aims to give California’s water enforcers more muscle to act swiftly and levy larger penalties for water agencies, irrigation districts and landowners who violate state orders and policies by pumping from rivers and streams.Bauer-Kahan introduced AB 460 after CalMatters reported in November that the state had imposed minimal fines on about 80 Siskiyou County ranchers — served by the Shasta River Water Association — who had violated an emergency order t...

Bill Murray’s reported romance with singer Kelis has predictably sparked ‘Milkshake’ jokes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

Following news that 83-year-old Al Pacino is having a baby with his 29-year-old girlfriend, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that yet another older male celebrity has started a romance with a much younger woman.But the celebrity world never seems to run out of news about improbable pairings, as evidenced by reports this week that Bill Murray, 72, has struck up a romance with Kelis, the 43-year-old singer who is best known for the 2003 hit song “Milkshake.”The report has predictably sparked jokes, inspired by the “Milkshake” lyrics and various Murray properties. Some jokes have been pretty lewd. The more tame examples speculate on how the “What About Bob?” star has been drawn “to the yard” by the singer’s special ice-cream beverage.My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard / And they’re like, that’s What About Bob https://t.co/nCUxgKZPUK— Eric Harvey (@ericdharvey) June 8, 2023The report about the supposed romance fi...

7 men arrested in Bay Area child sex predator sting operation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

(KRON) -- Seven men were arrested during a sting operation launched by the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children task force last week. "Operation Spring Cleaning" was a sting "targeting adults who were seeking to meet minors for sex," the Brentwood Police Department wrote. The primary goal of the sting was to identify, find, and help children who had been victimized by sexual predators.The seven arrested men were identified by police as: Nhouel Dulay, 29, of OakleyMichael Patterson, 42, of BrentwoodJeffrey Pallesen, 43, of StocktonCarlos Vera, 25, of BrentwoodEdward Stinson, 21, of MercedRobert Stearns, 54, of San RamonRandall Alston, 29, of Berkeley All seven suspects remain in custody this week pending preliminary hearings.Fifteen law enforcement agencies participated in "Operation Spring Cleaning" and executed eight search warrants. Brentwood police wrote, "Our agency remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our community and would like to thank all ...

Trump’s Mistake Was Committing Small Crimes by Himself

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

Newspapers front pages displayed in a newsstand in Bedminister on June 9, 2023, in New Jersey.Photo: Eduardo Munoz AlvarezI may have let out a weird animalistic hoot of joy when the news broke that former President Donald Trump had been indicted on federal charges. There’s something about Trump’s essence that maddens all former children who long ago always did the assigned reading, only to see their lazy bully classmate bloviate their way into the Ivy League thanks to their rich dad. “At long last he’s paying the price for not following the rules,” we think.And yet, there’s something discordant about hearing from the New York Times that this is “the first time a former U.S. president has faced federal charges.” The Washington Post made the same point, with a subheadline saying, “Political earthquake as GOP frontrunner is now first ex-president indicted by the DOJ.” Join Our Newsletter Original reporting. Fearless journalism. Del...

Minnesota Vikings release star running back Dalvin Cook for salary cap reasons, AP source says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings are parting ways with star running back Dalvin Cook for salary cap savings after his fourth consecutive season surpassing the 1,000-yard rushing mark.The team announced the move Friday, a day after Cook was informed he was being released, a person familiar with the team’s decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.“I’m fortunate to have been around such an enjoyable, talented and hardworking person like him over the last year,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. “He’s etched his name in Vikings history with his production on the field but also by consistently giving back to the Vikings Foundation. We are thankful for everything Dalvin brought to the Vikings and sincerely wish him all the best in his future.”Cook, in just six years with the Vikings, reached third on the franchise all-time rushing list with 5,993 yards. He’s fifth in rushing attempts (1,282) and fourth in rushing touchdowns (47)...

LA Galaxy star “Chicharito” Hernández tears ligament in right knee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — LA Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández has torn a ligament in his right knee.The Galaxy confirmed the injury Friday. The Mexican star will have surgery soon, but the injury could end his season.Hernández tore his ACL on a noncontact play Wednesday night in the first half of the Galaxy’s loss to Real Salt Lake in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.Hernández, who turned 35 last week, is in his fourth season with the Galaxy. He has two goals in 12 appearances this season after missing the first month of play with a hamstring injury.Chicharito has scored 35 goals in the past two seasons combined for the Galaxy, who are off to a miserable start to this season. The team sits last in the overall MLS table at 3-9-3 while scoring just 13 goals in 15 league matches.Hernández began his career with Chivas in his native Guadalajara before playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham and Sevilla. He became the highest-paid player in Majo...

DC area leaders say stay indoors, avoid unhealthy smog. What should homeless people do?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

During the Wednesday morning commute through haze along Georgia Avenue in Northwest D.C., the region’s drivers smelled smoke in the air and kept on moving. Alan stayed put.At the intersection of Missouri and Georgia Avenue, the “homeless and hustling” entrepreneur behind the self-named ‘Alan’s Oasis’ offered drivers water and cool beverages for car change while he stood in the smog.“I’ll get you an ice cold water. Any cash will do,” Alan said on his way up the street.Drivers passed him as they headed home, listening to the radio or a favorite podcast, but Alan remained on the street for hours. Aside from taking brief breaks for food or water, Alan spent hours walking up and down the line of cars, breathing in the smog that officials said no one should linger in.Wearing a neon green shirt with his business’s name handwritten, he waved at passing drivers. Another lane began to pile up at the stop light just moments before he ...

‘All life should be valued’: Volunteers rush to save animals after Ukraine dam collapse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — The rescue volunteer holds out his hand, but the dog, stranded on a floating island of debris in a southern Ukrainian city inundated by flooding, is too traumatized to approach. Volodymyr Holubnichii offers the scared animal some food; the dog sniffs and relaxes.“Don’t be scared,” Holubnichii soothingly tells the animal, which eventually accepts a leash and being carried to safety.Holubnichii, a volunteer with Animal Rescue Kharkiv, spent days cruising the flooded streets of Kherson city after the Kakhovka dam collapsed on Tuesday and submerged entire towns. He is one among the organization’s 70 volunteers determined to rescue as many animals as possible, plucking them from the rooftops and garages of flooded homes before they die of dehydration and hunger.The flooding has killed civilians, ruined crops, displaced landmines, and caused widespread environmental damage. Kyiv accused Moscow of blowing up the Dnieper River dam and its hydropower plant, whic...

Extremist rebels kill at least 15 civilians in eastern Congo, rights group says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — At least 15 people were killed by extremist attacks in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province, a rights group said Friday. Fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces —believed to have ties with the Islamic State group — attacked people for multiple days this week in the Ruwenzori sector of Beni territory, said Meleki Mulala, a coordinator for the New Congolese Civil Society group, a local rights organization. “They (also) seriously injured several other civilians who were dispatched for urgent care,” he said. The attackers executed the victims with knives, and the bodies of the dead were taken to the morgue and will be buried, Mulala said.Violence has simmered for decades in eastern Congo, where about 120 armed groups fight over land, resources and power, and some to defend their communities.Attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces have increased recently. This week’s violence comes days after at least 18 people were killed by the group in neighb...

Trump indictment unsealed in documents case | Live updates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:24 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Follow along for live updates on former President Donald Trump, who has been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate. The indictment marks the first time in U.S. history that a former president faces criminal charges by the federal government he once oversaw. Trump faces the possibility of prison if convicted.___TRUMP KEPT CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS IN BATHROOM, SHOWER OF CLUB, INDICTMENT SAYSThe indictment alleges Trump kept classified documents in the bathroom and shower at his Florida estate, as well as various other locations that included a ballroom, storeroom, office and bedroom.Prosecutors noted that “tens of thousands of members and guests” visited the “active social club” of Mar-a-Lago between the end of Trump’s presidency in January 2021 through the August 2022 search. They argued that “nonetheless” Trump stored documents “in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, and office space, his bedroom, and a storage room.”The indictment cla...