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Hillside collapses under historic building in San Clemente

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

The hillside under a historic building in San Clemente collapsed early Thursday, affecting train traffic in the area.Dirt and debris could be seen coming down the hillside below Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, located at 415 Avenida Granada.The house, which sits on bluff just north San Clemente Pier, had already suffered cracks to its terrace, but things got much worse overnight.The collapse occurred around 1 a.m., and some of the debris that came down landed close to train tracks in the area that had just reopened earlier this month. Commuter train routes between O.C. and San Diego resume over repaired track As a result, Metrolink closed the tracks out of an abundance of caution, the Orange County Transportation Authority said in a news release.Casa Romantica was also closed because of the incident.Drilling was being done in the area, but a city engineer told KTLA that he does not believe that led to the collapse.

Simi Valley man pleads guilty to selling fentanyl

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

A 31-year-old Simi Valley man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony count of selling fentanyl, authorities with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced.  Alex Alvarado’s guilty plea stems from a Sept. 2022 investigation, in which narcotics detectives with the Simi Valley Police Department received a tip that the 31-year-old was selling the synthetic opioid. The investigation led to Alvarado’s arrest for multiple sales of fentanyl.  A search warrant executed at Alvarado’s residence also led to the discovery of both fentanyl and methamphetamine, a news release from the Ventura County DA’s Office noted.  Fentanyl, which is estimated to be 50-100 times more potent than morphine, is highly addictive. The synthetic opioid is one of the most common drugs associated with overdose deaths in the United States. According to the Ventura County Medical Examiner, 278 overdose deaths in the county were reported in 2022. Of those, 181 victims of the victims had fe...

Lexy Panterra: Twerk Goddess With The Voice Of An Angel

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

Lexy Panterra, the popular dancer and dance teacher who gained fame for her twerking workouts, has since ventured into the music industry and released singles such as “Under Me” and “Depend On You.” Recently, she stopped by the Rockstar Lifestyle podcast studio in Hollywood to discuss her latest tracks and dating in the industry.During the podcast, Panterra expressed her desire to turn athletes into video vixens, having featured several of them in her music videos, including Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees and Tory Craig of the Phoenix Suns. She even revealed that insanely famous soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo, had slid into her Instagram DM’s many years ago, causing a moment of stunned silence from the podcast hosts.After bonding with Rockstar Lifestyle guest-host Brieanna Gray over their mutual gripes with industry dating, Lexy turned the podcast from superficial DM questions to thoughtful critiques of the music industry in general.Panterr...

Wisconsin train derails, sending cars into Mississippi River

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

By Michelle Watson and Sharif Paget | CNNA train derailment in southwestern Wisconsin on Thursday sent two derailed containers into the Mississippi River, and at least one crew member received medical attention, according to the train’s operator.The train derailed around 12:15 p.m. local time near the village of De Soto, and all crew members have since been accounted for, according to BNSF Railway.At least a dozen train cars were off the tracks, according to video that witness Caitlin Nolan shot. Other images on social media, along with the video Nolan shot, show some of the train cars in the river.BNSF personnel were headed to the scene, and the cause of the incident is under investigation, the railway said.The train was carrying hazardous materials, according to Marc Myhre, a Crawford County emergency management specialist. But none of hazardous materials, believed to be batteries, were in the train cars that went into the river, Myhre said.BNSF said some of the containers t...

Former San Francisco city official attacked homeless person with bear spray minutes prior to metal pipe attack, public defender says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

The suspect accused of using a metal pipe to attack a former San Francisco fire department official was released from custody Thursday and is to appear in court for a preliminary hearing in late May.Prosecutors say former San Francisco Fire Department Commissioner Don Carmignani sustained serious injuries after being attacked in early April by a suspect with a metal pipe outside of his mother’s home in San Francisco. Carmignani was unable to testify in Thursday’s preliminary hearing as a result, according to prosecutors.The judge overseeing the case granted the prosecution’s request to postpone the hearing until May 23 and released the suspect, Garret Doty, who San Francisco police booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, from jail.Kleigh Hathaway, Doty’s public defender, claims her client was not the aggressor in the incident but rather was protecting himself from the former fire official, who she says has targeted several homeless people with bear spray, including Doty.H...

Rep. Zephyr’s town feels divided from rest of Montana

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

By Nicholas Riccardi | Associated PressMISSOULA, Montana — In the college town of Missoula, pride flags are as common a sight as the peaks of Montana’s Rattlesnake Mountains. Even a downtown crosswalk is rainbow-colored.Often described as a blue island in a vast red state, Missoula sent the first openly transgender female legislator in Montana history to the state capital. Its voters, fully aware that they are vastly outnumbered by conservatives statewide, were still shocked at what happened next.Their new representative, Zooey Zephyr, was barred last week from speaking on the floor of the Legislature by the Republican majority, which accused her of violating decorum by saying they had “blood on your hands” for approving a bill barring gender-affirming care for minors. On Wednesday, Republicans voted to bar Zephyr from the House floor for the remainder of the legislative session, scheduled to end next month.Zephyr was elected with 80% of the vote in November in her...

Letters: Charging stations | Bobblehead boost | Sell A’s | Recall Thao | Health care | Palestinian violence

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.State needs moreEV charging stationsYour column “I’m ready to trade in my electric car,” (Page A7, April 26) accurately points to the urgent need to add electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to highways and cities.But the headline misses the point that the author is considering a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), not a gas car. A PHEV only uses gas after 40 miles or so, i.e. only on long trips, so it is still mostly an electric car. For families with two cars, an all-electric car and a PHEV can serve all travel needs without buying a gas car. That’s why so far this year in Alameda County 37.8% of new cars have been EVs or PHEVs.If we can get Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to fund abundant EV chargers as part of roadway infrastructure, we will rid the state of auto pollution.Jack FleckOaklandBoost A’s crowds withexecutive bobbleheadsThe ...

West Virginia Gov. Justice announces run for Senate

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

By Shania Shelton, David Wright and Manu Raju | CNNRepublican Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia announced his Senate candidacy on Thursday, setting up a potential challenge to Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, among the most vulnerable incumbents in 2024.“I am officially announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate,” Justice told a roomful of supporters in White Sulphur Springs. “And I absolutely will promise you to God above that I will do the job, and I will do the job that will make you proud.”The term-limited governor was joined by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who praised Justice during introductory remarks.“We need help in Washington. We need a winner. We need somebody that can win in a general election. A conservative who can move the ball forward in Washington, DC,” Graham said. He added that “we’ve made mistakes in 2022. We didn’t nominate maybe the right person for ...

Letters: PG&E rates | ‘Gravy train’ | Dragging feet | A decent place | Range of sexes | Unlikely fix

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Higher PG&E rateswill cut donationsRe: “PG&E rate change is because of new law” (April 18).This is the dumbest law ever.As a person who worked their butt off to live in this valley, I will probably fit in the highest category. My plan is to cut my substantial donations to some California charities. The net result will be zero.A number of my friends have told me they will do the same.Robert DroegeSan JoseState’s ‘gravy train’keeps homeless comingRe: “Homelessness rise baffles lawmakers” (Page B1, April 23).The headline in Sunday’s Mercury News, “Homelessness rise baffles lawmakers,” was surprising considering that the answer to the question is contained in the first sentence of the article: “The state has spent billions of dollars on homelessness in recent years.”When the gravy train is running at full speed, passengers from n...

Search called off for person reported in the water off Embarcadero

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:30:34 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The search has been called off for a victim reported in the water off the San Francisco Embarcadero near the Cupid's Span sculpture Thursday afternoon, the San Francisco Fire Department said. Bay Area transit agency accuses NBA of trying to ‘kneecap’ Warriors’ dynasty over Game 6 schedule Rescue swimmers, rescue divers, rescue boats and San Francisco Police Department boats had all been deployed in an extensive search of the area. First responders were unable to locate the victim.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.