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Nine things to know about California’s new state Assembly speaker

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

California’s Assembly Speaker is among the Golden State’s most powerful political positions, a perch considered second only to the governor in influence that controls the flow of legislation, and from which many legendary politicians made their mark — Ralph M. Brown,  Jesse “Big Daddy” Unruh and Willie Brown, to name a few.On Friday, the Assembly gavel passed for the first time in more than seven years to Assemblyman Robert Rivas, 43, a Democrat whose district stretches from Gilroy to King City and includes Hollister, Watsonville and Salinas. He replaces fellow Democrat Anthony Rendon, 55, of Los Angeles County.So what do you need to know about this shift of power in the Capitol?The role of SpeakerThe Speaker presides over California’s 80-member state Assembly, appointing committee chairs and controlling the flow of legislation through hearings and votes. Elected by the full Assembly, the Speaker is nominated by the majority party caucus, becoming...

Check out blind photographers’ exhibit ‘Sight Unseen’ in Walnut Creek

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

Vision is a slippery word that in application slides beyond the human eye’s physiological capabilities to reach the more allusive way of seeing referred to as “visionary.”This idea is made emphatically by “Sight Unseen: International Photography by Blind Artists,” an exhibit running July 8 through Sept. 17 in the Bedford Gallery at Walnut Creek’s downtown Lesher Center for the Arts (bedfordgallery.org/exhibitions/current-season/sight-unseen).On tour via Pasadena-based Curatorial Assistance Traveling Exhibitions and originating from UC Riverside’s California Museum of photography (an affiliate institution of UC Riverside’s ARTSblock), the exhibit curated by photographer Douglas McCulloh features the work of 13 world-renowned blind photographers.The featured artists have a range of sight impairment, from completely to legally blind to vision that is significantly limited. The causes are varied and include some, like Henry Butler, a musician who was born blind; other photographer...

Antioch city manager says he will resign

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

Antioch City Manager Cornelius Johnson has given notice that he will resign as of July 14.Johnson, who was placed on administrative leave March 17 following a closed-door City Council session, confirmed his resignation and two weeks’ notice in a phone call Friday morning. The City Council learned of the action through an email from City Attorney Thomas Lloyd Smith.The reasons behind the council putting Johnson on leave last spring are still unclear, but Johnson had faced backlash on some decisions, including one to reorganize the Public Works and Community Development departments and form a new Engineering Department, among others.Johnson’s last day also will be former Acting City Manager Forrest Ebbs’ final day. Ebbs is leaving to take a deputy city manager position in Modesto; Kwame Reed, former Economic Development director, has stepped up to fill the acting city manager role.On Friday, Johnson said his resignation was in the best interest of the city and “it was time” to move on...

Famous castaway Elián González is now a Cuban lawmaker

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

By Andrea Rodriguez | Associated PressHAVANA — Elián González has the same big, expressive eyes he did 23 years ago when an international custody battle transformed him into the face of the long-strained relations between Cuba and the United States.Now 29, González is stepping into Cuban politics. He recently entered his country’s congress with hopes of helping his people at a time of record emigration and heightened tension between the two seaside neighbors.“From Cuba, we can do a lot so that we have a more solid country, and I owe it to Cubans,” he said during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press. “That is what I’m going to try to do from my position, from this place in congress — to contribute to making Cuba a better country.”González has given only a handful of interviews since he was unwittingly thrust into the geopolitical spotlight as a boy. In 1999, at just 5 years old, he and his mother were aboard a boat of Cuban migrants hea...

Boating while intoxicated is a crime, Coast Guard warns ahead of July 4

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

(KRON) -- U.S. Coast Guard crews throughout California will increase boat safety patrols during the July 4th holiday weekend for "Operation Dry Water," targeting people who violate Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws.It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Coast Guard officials warned. Penalties for violating BUI laws include large fines, suspension or revocation of boat operator privileges, and jailtime. During the 2022 "Operation Dry Water," officers made contact with 126,832 vessels and 350,472 boaters. These engagements resulted in 11,869 citations and 794 BUIs.From Saturday through Tuesday, boaters can expect an increased presence from the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary, who will be paying particular attention to recreational boating safety this weekend. Alcohol use is the lead contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, accounting for the largest percentage of fatalities.Boaters on Lake Tahoe (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez /Clarks...

Nets trading Joe Harris, a two-time NBA 3-point leader, to the Pistons, AP source says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets are trading Joe Harris, who twice led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage, to the Detroit Pistons, a person with knowledge of the details said Friday.The Nets also sent two second-round picks to the Pistons in a move designed to create additional salary cap options for the free agency period that was set to begin hours later. The deal was first reported by ESPN.Harris was the Nets’ longest-tenured player, having originally signed with the team in July 2016. He rose to become one of their most dependable players, leading the NBA by shooting 47.4% from 3-point range in 2018-19, then a franchise-record 47.5% in 2020-21.But the swingman was limited to 14 games in 2021-22 before surgery on his left ankle, and had a lesser role in the latter half of last season after the Nets acquired four starters in the trades for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in February. Harris is set to make $19.9 million next season in the final year of his contract. ___Mor...

Ex-wrestling coach at Baltimore Catholic high school acquitted in sex abuse case

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

TOWSON, Md. (AP) — A Maryland judge acquitted a former Catholic high school wrestling coach Friday in a sex abuse case.Neil Adleberg, 75, of Reisterstown, had been charged with second-degree rape, second-degree attempted rape, sex abuse of a minor and sexual solicitation of a minor. His was the sole indictment stemming from the state’s attorney general’s yearslong investigation into child sex abuse and coverups within the Archdiocese of Baltimore.Outside the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Adleberg thanked his family and friends who stuck with him and the judge for his “attentiveness to the facts,” news outlets reported. The accusations prevented him from participating in Maryland wrestling and helping other young wrestlers, he said.“I have to regain that reputation somehow,” Adleberg said. “The wrestling community in Maryland, in my opinion, has suffered a little bit because for the year and a half that I’ve been waiting for a trial. I couldn’t help people.” Adleber...

Barcelona reaches deal with defender Samuel Umtiti to end contract 2 years early

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona has reached a deal with defender Samuel Umtiti to end his contract two years in advance, the club said Friday.The French defender was was under contract with Barcelona through the end of the 2025-26 season. He played on a loan at Italian club Lecce this past campaign. Umtiti joined Barcelona in 2016 but struggled with injuries in his final period with the Catalan club. The 29-year-old defender was injury-free with Lecce in Italy, where he played 25 matches.Umtiti was part of France’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018 and helped Barcelona win two Spanish league titles and three Copa del Rey trophies. ___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Aregawi clocks fifth-fastest men’s 5,000 meters in history to win Diamond League meet at Lausanne

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Berihu Aregawi ran the fifth-fastest men’s 5,000 meters in track history on Friday to beat Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei at the Athletissima meeting.Aregawi raced clear of Cheptegei over the last two laps to win a compelling duel in 12 minutes, 40.45 seconds. The 22-year-old Ethiopian, who was fourth in the 10,000 at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, never let Cheptegei get too close on his shoulder and broke clear 50 meters from the finish. Cheptegei set the world record of 12:35.36 three years ago. Track greats Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie are second and third on the all-time list.With the top American and Jamaican sprinters at home for national trials ahead of the world championships in August, the men’s distance runners took center stage on the latest stop on the Diamond League circuit.Olympic 1,500-meter champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen eased to victory in 3:28.72, a meet record in Lausanne but more than seven-tenths of a second slowe...

Man charged after allegedly threatening Gov. Polis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) – An Aurora man has been charged with allegedly threatening Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' life.According to a release from the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, 41-year-old Jermoie Rose left two threatening voicemails on June 20. Problem Solvers: Fired prosecutor blackmailed over naked photo "I voted for you and you took away the emergency food stamps," Rose allegedly said in the voicemail. "You're lucky I don't put a bullet in your f------ head, 'cause if I had the chance, I would."The voicemails did not contain a name, but Colorado State Patrol worked with the Colorado Department of Human Services, the organization that handles food stamps, to identify Rose.During the investigation, a CSP trooper learned police had been in contact with Rose in the past for similar calls. FOX31 obtained the arrest affidavit to learn more about the alleged threat. It includes the above quote with four other expletive-laden quotes from two voicemails.Rose is facing one count of r...