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Crews respond to fire at Sparta, Illinois metals factory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

SPARTA, Ill - A fire started at spartan light metals in Sparta, Illinois.A machine that works with magnesium caught fire and flames spread to the roof. 12 fire departments responded and quickly extinguished the fire. Top Story: Flock camera leads to DUI hit-and-run arrest in Eureka All employees were evacuated safely and there were no injuries.

Dodgers face blowback after uninviting LGBTQ group from Pride Night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

A night meant to highlight inclusion has become one of controversy after one group was uninvited from participating in the Los Angles Dodgers' 10th annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night next month.The Los Angeles chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who were going to be honored with the team's Community Hero Award, have been removed from the lineup of this year's event.The Sisters are a self-described "leading-edge Order of queer and trans nuns" who use "humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit."They are known for their activism on behalf of LGBTQ rights and their support for those living with HIV and other causes.Despite their intentions, the Sisters' use of Roman Catholic imagery in particular rankled some, including Catholic organizations and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who wrote a letter of complaint to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.“Do you believe that the Los Angeles Dodgers are being ‘inc...

Seal Beach sees flooding amid large surf, high tide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

True to predictions from the National Weather Service, large surf and high tide combined to bring coastal flooding to Orange County Wednesday night.The flooding was not severe, only about a foot or foot-and-a-half of water, but it did affect a parking lot, bikeways and some structures.The flooding near Seal Beach Pier may have been just a prelude.The tide is expected to be highest at about 9 p.m. Thursday night, according to the Orange County Register, meaning more flooding could be on the way.Warnings have been issued for south-facing beaches in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.At high tide, “beach erosion along with water over walkways & parking lots could occur,” the NWS said on Twitter.“Stay off rock walls & jetties,” the agency added.

Bicyclist killed in Oakland hit-and-run collision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

OAKLAND –A 50-year-old bicyclist riding in East Oakland died Wednesday night after he was struck by a vehicle that  fled the scene, authorities said.The name of the man killed, an Oakland resident, was not released.The man was found about 9:19 p.m. Wednesday, unresponsive on the sidewalk at the intersection of 98th Avenue and D Street.He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.Police were able to determine the man was struck by a white vehicle of an unknown make or model in the intersection. The vehicle was last seen going southbound on 98th Avenue.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Man arrested as suspect in downtown Berkeley bank robbery attempt Crashes and Disasters | East Bay child molestation defendant receives 15 years to life Crashes and Disasters | Alameda County prosecutors charge former DA campaign volunteer with attempted murder in Oakland shooting Crashes and Disasters | Hayward PD: Man kills moth...

Supreme Court shields Twitter from liability for terror-related content and leaves Section 230 untouched

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

(CNN) — Twitter will not have to face accusations it aided and abetted terrorism when it hosted tweets created by the terror group ISIS, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday.The court also dismissed a closely watched case about social media content moderation in a case involving Google, skipping a decision that legal experts warned might have upended the broader internet. The rulings are wins for Twitter and other tech platforms that have faced a barrage of lawsuits from critics who allege they should be held legally responsible for societal harms, including terrorist attacks. The Twitter decision was unanimous and written by Justice Clarence Thomas. The court held that Twitter’s hosting of general terrorist speech does not create indirect legal responsibility for specific terrorist attacks, effectively raising the bar for future such claims. The Twitter ruling a major defeat for tech critics who have said that social media platforms must be held accountable with the threat ...

Supreme Court rules against Andy Warhol in copyright dispute over Prince portrait

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the late Andy Warhol infringed on a photographer’s copyright when he created a series of silk screens based on a photograph of the late singer Prince.The ruling was 7-2.The court rejected arguments made by a lawyer of the Andy Warhol Foundation (the artist died in 1987) that his work was sufficiently transformative so as not to trigger copyright concerns.The opinion has been closely anticipated by the global art world watching to see how the court would balance an artist’s freedom to borrow from existing works and the restrictions of copyright law.“Goldsmith’s original works, like those of other photographers, are entitled to copyright protection, even against famous artists. Such protection includes the right to prepare derivative works that transform the original,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the majority opinion, referring to Lynn Goldsmith, the photographer at the center of the case.In a dissent from Justice Elena Kagan that was joined ...

California layoffs jump 60% to 27-month high

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

California bosses laid off 236,000 workers in March, a 60% jump from the average pace of job cuts in the previous 12 months.The jump in workers’ involuntary departures to the fastest pace since December 2020 was found in my trusty spreadsheet’s review of the federal government’s monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The report, dubbed “JOLTS” by economists, tracks what’s moving the job market.March’s layoffs are nowhere near the historic 1.5 million cuts of March 2020 amid coronavirus lockdowns. However, it’s a noteworthy spike that follows months of high-profile job cuts, notably in California’s technology industries and several eye-catching bank failures.The bump in worker discharges is also a warning signal that the Federal Reserve’s year-long attempt attempts to cool an overheated economy with soaring interest rates are making bosses antsy.California’s March layoffs are 25% larger than the monthly average in pre-pandemic 2015-19, what’s considered a healthy economic pe...

Seeing elephant up close in natural habitat a wish come true for Bay Area elderly woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

A visit to the circus as a young child secured Brenda Kennedy’s love for elephants some 75 years ago, but she never thought she would be able to see them up close and personal in a natural habitat.“I remember seeing the elephants in chains at the circus in Los Angeles,” the 83-year-old Danville resident recalled. “They used to chain them to the spikes outside the tent and keep them there, and I was very upset that they were chained. My dad told me that this is a new town and they don’t want them to get lost.”Years later, Kennedy would head to the zoo, making a beeline to the elephant exhibits to watch the highly intelligent pachyderms, each time noting the differences among them.“God made us all different, and he made them different, too,” she said. “You stand by one and say, my gosh, it is different from this guy.”But it wasn’t until recent weeks that her wish would come true to visit with the highly sensitive and caring creatures when a friend surprised her by submitting a request...

Accused Bob Lee killer Nima Momeni due in court today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Nima Momeni, the accused killer of Cash App founder Bob Lee, is due in court for his arraignment Thursday morning. This will be Momeni's third court appearance for an arraignment.The first two times Momeni was due in court, there was no arraignment because both parties weren't ready. Momeni is accused of stabbing Lee to death in the early hours of April 4 in a well-to-do enclave of San Francisco not far from the Bay Bridge. Why did California doctor drive family over cliff in Tesla at Devils Slide? Momeni was arrested eight days later at his Emeryville loft.Prosecutors say the two men knew each other and that Momeni stabbed Lee and then drove away in his BMW. Earlier that evening, Lee had been socializing with Momeni's sister, Khazar Elyassnia.Momeni's defense attorney, Paula Canney, maintains her client is innocent and is expected to ask that he be released on bail. She says that fact that her client didn't try to flee shows he is innocent. Momeni has no p...

NBA Playoffs: Jimmy Butler remains hot, and Heat top Celtics in Game 1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:25 GMT

Jimmy Butler’s stellar postseason run continued, and the Miami Heat still look nothing like a No. 8 seed.Butler had 35 points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds, and the Heat — a team that almost was eliminated in the play-in round — struck first in the Eastern Conference finals by topping the Boston Celtics 123-116 in Game 1.Butler is averaging 31.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals in these playoffs on 52% shooting. The only player to do all that in a single postseason while shooting at least 50% is Michael Jordan — who pulled it off twice. (That doesn’t count Kawhi Leonard, who did it this year but appeared in only two playoff games.)Miami improved to 9-3 in the playoffs. The other nine No. 8 seeds in the last five seasons combined for a total of 10 wins.WHAT’S NEXT?Denver will aim for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals on Thursday. Game 2 in the East title series will be played in Boston on Friday.HOW TO WATCH— The Western Conf...