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Study: California defendants are more likely to go free when they meet lawyers early

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:00 GMT

In most California courts, morning arraignments are a mess.Lawyers refer to them as “cattle calls.” Defendants troop in, typically in jail jumpsuits, and seat themselves in the jury box. Moments before a judge calls their name, they spend a few hushed minutes conversing with a public defender who explains what they’re charged with before they make a plea.But in Santa Clara County, when indigent defendants met with an attorney in jail soon after their arrest, their situation changed dramatically for the better.That was the conclusion of a study by California Policy Lab, a nonprofit research group affiliated with UCLA and UC Berkeley. Researchers found that indigent defendants in a pilot program were 75% less likely to be convicted if they met with a public defender within 48 hours of their arrest, and 75% more likely to be released before trial.Those meetings gave public defenders time to ask about their clients, such as whether they were in mental health or substance abuse treatment...

AP: Russia says it killed tank, video shows it was a tractor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:00 GMT

By Michael Biesecker | Associated PressWASHINGTON — A grainy black-and-white gunsight video Russia released this week to bolster a claim its military blew up some of Ukraine’s most fearsome tanks actually documented the destruction of a tractor, according to a visual analysis by The Associated Press.The Russian Embassy in Washington announced Monday on Twitter its forces had “annihilated” eight German-made Leopard tanks, among the most advanced and powerful weapons NATO countries have provided to Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense then posted a video Tuesday on the social media network Telegram with text saying it showed “footage of the destruction of foreign armored vehicles, including Leopard tanks.”The video was shown extensively by Russian state-controlled broadcasters and news sites, which said it was recorded from the thermal imaging system of a KA-52 Alligator attack helicopter. Several black silhouettes of vehicles can be seen, before the ...

Officials: Fire displaces eight residents of Oakland apartment building

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:00 GMT

OAKLAND — Eight residents of an East Oakland apartment building were displaced Thursday evening after a two-alarm fire that started in a lightwell, officials said.No residents or firefighters were injured.Authorities said the fire started about 5:11 p.m. Thursday in the lightwell of the Kensington Gardens apartment building, a three-story, 41-unit complex at 1900 26th Ave.Acting Battalion Fire Chief Porya Jeddi said the fire started on the ground floor and worked its way up all three floors, getting into seven units. He said the fire damage was mostly confined to the bathroom areas of the units.Residents of the entire complex self-evacuated.The fire was declared under control at 5:51 p.m.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Officials: Fire guts clubhouse at Lake Chabot Golf Course in Oakland Crashes and Disasters | Man found dead inside burning truck in Oakland hills Crashes and Disasters | Arson, domestic violence probes underway ...

Elusive sperm whales hanging around Southern California coast 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:00 GMT

Sperm whales have been making a splash off the Orange County coast in recent days, creating a buzz among ocean enthusiasts.The elusive species is the largest toothed whale and can be tough to find in the open ocean, with hour-long dives into the deep waters, usually far offshore, that make tracking the animal hard.These current whales were first spotted by Newport Coastal Adventure charters on June 3 and 4, before heading down to San Diego earlier this week. Another encounter on Thursday, June 8, by Dana Wharf Whale Watching and Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari means they could be hanging around while searching for food.A sperm whale spotted off Dana Point on June 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Matt Stumpf/Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari)A sperm whale spotted off Dana Point on June 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Matt Stumpf/Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari)A sperm whale spotted off Dana Point on June 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Matt Stumpf/Capt. Dave&#...

East Bay woman gets wedding ring back following theft of tote bag from car

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:00 GMT

PLEASANT HILL — Police provided good news to a woman who briefly left her vehicle unlocked in her home driveway, only to return and find that somebody had stolen a tote bag that held her wedding ring.They found the suspect and got the wedding ring back.It all happened this week, beginning Sunday, when police received the original report of the theft, Pleasant Hill police Lt. Brian Leonard said in a statement. The woman told officers she loaded the tote bag into her vehicle parked in her driveway on Maxine Drive, ran inside, and came back to find the bag gone, he said. The bag also contained other jewelry.Leonard said detectives reviewed home security footage from the area and spoke with neighbors, allowing them to identify a suspect. They served a warrant at that suspect’s home in Martinez on Thursday, where Leonard said they arrested him on suspicion of grand theft from a vehicle.The jewelry and ring in the tote bag had been pawned, but detectives tracked down where the...

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

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:00 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 15:54:00 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 15:54:00 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 15:54:00 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 15:54:00 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)...