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No layoffs, but cuts to violence prevention in Oakland’s new $4.2 billion budget

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

OAKLAND — The city’s new $4.2 billion budget will require no layoffs, bringing relief to thousands of city workers reeling from a major ransomware attack amid an uncertain economic climate.But the budget will merge some departments and squeeze a number of other services — including those dealing with violence prevention — to close what officials have described as a historic deficit.And despite amendments to relieve some of the burn, the cuts and mergers proposed by Mayor Sheng Thao led to a fractured City Council vote, with three of the eight City Council members declining to sign off on the final approved budget Monday night.After the dust settled, Oakland had closed its $360 million shortfall for the immediate future, though officials warned that another deficit looms two years from now when the next budget will be wrangled.Thao, in a statement following the meeting, said the budget “preserves jobs, delivering quality City services to residents and bu...

Sharks’ Mike Grier takes a stand in terms of trading Erik Karlsson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier is working with Erik Karlsson and his representative to try and trade the defenseman to more of a win-now team but declared Tuesday that he has no plans to deal the three-time Norris Trophy winner for a minimal return, adding that Karlsson could also be back with the team in the fall.Grier said he has received interest from other teams inquiring about Karlsson, 33, who is coming off a 101-point season as he was again voted the league’s top defenseman on Monday night.While any trade involving Karlsson figures to be complex, considering his exorbitant contract, Grier said he’s not looking to give away the defenseman on the cheap just to create extra salary cap space.‘He’s not someone that we’re just going to toss aside,” Grier said of Karlsson, “and not take things into account and try and help the organization out.”Karlsson, who has declared his wish to play for a playoff contender, is set to enter the fif...

Julian Sands dies at 65; British actor starred in ‘A Room With a View,’ ‘Leaving Las Vegas’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

By Andrew Dalton | Associated PressLOS ANGELES — Actor Julian Sands, who starred in several Oscar-nominated films in the late 1980s and ’90s including “A Room With a View” and “Leaving Las Vegas,” was found dead on a Southern California mountain five months after he disappeared while hiking, authorities said Tuesday.An investigation confirmed that it was Sands whose remains hikers found Saturday in wilderness near Mount Baldy, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said. The 65-year-old actor was an avid and experienced hiker who lived in Los Angeles and was reported missing Jan. 13 after setting out on the peak that rises more than 10,000 feet east of the city. Crews aided by drones and helicopters had searched for him several times, but, severely hampered by wintry conditions that lasted through spring, no sign of him was found until the civilian hikers came upon him.The chances of Sands being discovered alive had long since diminished t...

Vallejo police shoot, injure buglary suspect who allegedly struck officer with car

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

(BCN) -- A Vallejo police officer shot and injured a burglary suspect who allegedly struck the officer with a vehicle while trying to flee early Tuesday morning, police said. Vallejo police initially responded around 4 a.m. to a report of a burglary in progress in the 1400 block of Springs Road. The suspect allegedly struck a responding officer with a vehicle, prompting the officer to fire his duty weapon, striking and injuring the suspect, according to Vallejo police. Hate crimes rose 20.2% in California in 2022 The suspect, whose name was not immediately released, was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries and is expected to survive. Police did not provide the name of the officer involved in the shooting and did not give the extent of his injuries from being struck by the fleeing vehicle. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

San Francisco fentanyl trafficker convicted by jury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A San Francisco drug dealer was swiftly convicted by a jury for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine in a notorious spot for open-air drug markets. Demetrio Macario, 32, was trafficking narcotics on the corner of Seventh Street and Market Street when he was arrested on March 9, according to prosecutors. Macario was convicted of possession for sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine."The jury’s verdict holds Mr. Macario accountable and sends a strong message that San Franciscans are fed up and will no longer tolerate open-air drug markets," District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Tuesday. "My office will aggressively prosecute drug dealers and continue to fight to restore safety to entire neighborhoods that have been held hostage by illegal drug dealing, and the violence that it brings, for far too long," Jenkins said. 346 people died from drug overdoses in San Francisco in 2023 Undercover police officers were watching suspected drug dealers on Market Stree...

Man shot to death near Powell Street BART identified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A man who was shot and killed near the Powell Street BART Station last week has been identified. Ataviayan Barfield, 21 of San Francisco, was identified by the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.Barfield was shot and killed last Thursday at around 8:39 p.m., the San Francisco Police Department said. A suspect, identified as 18-year-old Daveon Crawford of Sacramento, was arrested the following day. Oakland police searching for Mercedes Benz driver after hit-and-run Crawford was taken to San Francisco County Jail and booked for murder.A female juvenile who was also detained in connection to the incident was released to a guardian.

Jordi Fernandez to replace Nick Nurse as Canada coach, source tells AP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

Sacramento assistant Jordi Fernandez is taking over for Nick Nurse as coach of the Canadian men’s basketball team that will compete at this summer’s World Cup, a person with knowledge of the decision said Tuesday.Fernandez is also expected to remain in place should Canada qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the hiring had not been revealed publicly.ESPN first reported Fernandez’s hiring, which was subsequently confirmed by The Toronto Star and Sportsnet.Nurse had a contract to coach the Canadian team through the 2024 Olympics. He was fired as coach of the Toronto Raptors earlier this year and is now coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.Canada — which could have Jamal Murray of the NBA champion Denver Nuggets and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder headlining its roster this summer — is scheduled to play at least five exhibition games before the World Cup starts on Aug. 25.The Canadia...

TikTok is axing an in-app feature called TikTok Now that mirrored BeReal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

TikTok is killing off an in-app feature that was a close copy of the social media platform BeReal.The feature, called TikTok Now, was just launched in September and gave users daily prompts to capture 10-second video or a picture using the front and back camera on their phones. TikTok said in a statement on Tuesday that a notification was sent to users letting them know the feature would be discontinued. It said users could still access previous posts they made with TikTok Now. “We’re excited to use the feedback we’ve gained through TikTok Now as we continue building ways for the TikTok community to create and connect over shared entertainment,” said TikTok spokesperson Zachary Kizer.TikTok Now was launched as BeReal was gaining popularity among users last year. The app notified users to take photos at random moments in an effort to reflect more genuine experiences, eschewing picture-perfect posts often found on other platforms like Instagram. Seeing its popularity, Snapchat and Ins...

76ers face an uncertain future with Harden and Harris deals up in the air

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — James Harden might have side-eyed questions this week — much like he did in a playful reaction in his Houston days — about his future with the Philadelphia 76ers.But the issue is real in Philly: Will Harden return to the 76ers for a third season?All signs point to Harden declining his $35.6 million option on Thursday and entering this summer as an unrestricted free agent. That leaves the 2018 NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star free to sign with any team. A return to the Rockets? Perhaps, if he prioritizes cash over a championship chase. The 76ers? Depends. Does Harden really enjoy playing as the second option to NBA MVP Joel Embiid?Plan C?Harden might not have planned much beyond a potential Houston reunion or Sixers return. Philadelphia has the home-contract edge: The 76ers have the right to offer Harden a $210 million, four-year deal, $8 million more overall than any other team.Houston, though, where Harden blossomed into a surefire Hall of Famer is a cit...

Alabama lawmakers to convene to redraw maps US Supreme Court declared unfair to Black voters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:37 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s governor on Tuesday set a special legislative session to redraw congressional district maps that the U.S. Supreme Court declared unfair to Black voters. Gov. Kay Ivey set the July 17 session for the Republican-controlled Alabama Legislature after the high court upheld a three-judge panel’s ruling that the state illegally diluted the political power of Black voters by having only one majority Black congressional district. The three-judge panel gave legislators until July 21 to submit a redrawn map for review or the court will draw its own. “The Alabama Legislature has one chance to get this done before the July 21 court deadline,” Ivey said in a statement. “Our Legislature knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups do.”The U.S. Supreme Court this month affirmed the panel’s finding that Alabama likely violated the Voting Rights Act with a congressional map that had only one m...