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Trial begins for man accused of igniting massive 2018 California wildfire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

A long-running dispute between two neighbors among the rustic cabins of Holy Jim Canyon led one of the men to intentionally ignite what became the massive Holy fire that burned through more than 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties, a prosecutor told jurors on Tuesday.Alleged threats made by Forrest Clark toward his neighbor, along with potentially self-incriminating comments a raving Clark made to investigators who were looking into the source of the wildfire, are at the center of an arson trial that began Tuesday morning in an Orange County Superior courthouse in Santa Ana.Deputy District Attorney Dominic Bello told jurors that Clark threatened his neighbor hours before setting a fire “in or around” the man’s cabin. Alternate Defender Jason Phlaum countered that fire investigators quickly focused solely on Clark and carried out an inadequate investigation that failed to prove the blaze was intentionally set.Forrest Clark appears in court on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 during ...

Divers find 25 vehicles in Delta slough, one with missing man’s body

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

A dive team looking for a man who disappeared two months ago found 25 vehicles in a mile-long stretch of Delta slough — and one of them contained the missing man’s body.The discovery on Saturday, April 15, of Jacob VanZant’s SUV was announced by the community-funded search team Adventures With Purpose.Vanzant, 24, went missing on the evening of Feb. 17 after picking up takeout from a Lodi restaurant. He was thought to have been headed toward his girlfriend’s home in Stockton — but the Adventures With Purpose team decided to focus on an area off that route because of the last pings received from VanZant’s phone, team leader Jared Leisek said in a video report.On Friday, the first day of their search, divers spent several hours near the Eight Mile Road ferry landing, on Little Potato Slough between Empire Tract and Venice Island. In a stretch of slough a little more than a mile long, they discovered 25 vehicles in the water, Leisek said.Returning on...

Alec Baldwin plays at park with Hilaria, kids, before — ‘Yikes!’ — ‘Rust’ production resumes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

Before Alec Baldwin resumes production on “Rust” — one of the more macabre-sounding endeavors in recent Hollywood history — the beleaguered actor enjoyed a trip Tuesday to his neighborhood park with his influencer wife Hilaria, four of their seven young children and a woman who looks like one of their rumored nannies.Photos captured by paparazzi show the casually dressed Alec and Hilaria Baldwin pushing a stroller carrying at least one small child into Washington Square Park, near their penthouse in Greenwich Village. They were accompanied by a woman who appeared to be a servant, pushing a second stroller holding another two children. As the Daily Mail said, it appeared that Baldwin, 65, and Hilaria, 39, were trying to “enjoy some normality” before he flew off to Montana to resume production on “Rust.”Alec and Hilaria Baldwin are spotted out with their kids in NYC ahead of Rust filming https://t.co/CJZOb6tMrS pic.twitter.com/i6WSgPMFTu...

Coachella 2023: 25 must-see acts if you’re going to Weekend 2

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

Related ArticlesMusic | Coachella 2023: Blackpink’s success has K-pop fans hoping for more Asian music and representation Music | Coachella 2023: Photos of artist-inspired outfits and fashion during Weekend 1 Music | Coachella 2023: A look inside the festival bars and hidden speakeasies Music | Coachella 2023: Fans react to Frank Ocean’s performance not being livestreamed Music | Coachella 2023: Set times and schedule announced — plus a surprise guest After attending all three days of the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio on April 14-16 and seeing dozens of performances — including 2023 headliners Bad Bunny, Blackpink and Frank Ocean — our festival team has come up with a list of must-see acts for those attending weekend two on April 21-23.Of course, check out the headliners (maybe Ocean will have it more together for the second weekend), but there’s a lot going on th...

Here’s how you can see South America by sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

Climbing the 222 steps to reach Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Christ the Redeemer may bring greater physical reward to the able-bodied who bypass the elevator or escalator. But no matter how one gets to the peak of Mount Corcovado, be they Christian or not, a spiritual reward awaits visitors at the pedestal of the religious and cultural symbol of Brazil, if not all of South America.It isn’t just the towering depiction of Jesus that brings awe to those who reach the world-famous, 98-foot-high statue. The landmark’s width and representation also make it so affecting; Cristo Redentor, using the native Portuguese name, has open arms that span 92 feet. These outstretched appendages, whether interpreted as a welcoming gesture or the redemption of mankind at the crucifixion, add to the statue’s allure and, based on the nonstop crowd of people imitating the Beloved Son’s pose in group shots and selfies, its Instagramability.Overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Christ the Redeemer is the religious and cult...

Suspects, victim in Pleasanton Home Depot shooting identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

PLEASANTON, Calif. (KRON) -- Two people are in jail Wednesday morning accused of murder, robbery, child endangerment and conspiracy after shooting and killing an employee at a Pleasanton Home Depot.Pleasanton police identified the victim as 26-year-old Tri-Valley resident Blake Mohs, a loss prevention employee at the store. Police said he was well-known within law enforcement as the reporting party on any incidents at the store. "I am devastated by the loss of Blake Mohs in yesterday’s senseless shooting. Through his service to Tri-Valley organizations, Blake was a model for others. To have a life cut short is heartbreaking and infuriating. I’m joined by the City Council in offering our deepest condolences to Blake’s family, friends, loved ones, and to everyone impacted by this tragedy,” said Mayor Karla Brown.Police were called to the Home Depot, located at 6000 Johnson Drive, at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday. They found one victim bleeding inside the store. Police said suspe...

Suspect in San Jose robberies targeting AAPI community charged with hate crimes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

(KRON) -- A suspect in a series of strong-armed robberies targeting the AAPI community in North San Jose has been arrested, according to the San Jose Police Department. An investigation into the string of robberies which occurred between April and August of 2022 was led by detectives from the San Jose PD Robbery Unit. Rev. Al Sharpton calls for DOJ to protect Antioch mayor In the crimes, which police said "displayed a pattern of targeting" AAPI individuals, the suspect would forcefully remove jewelry from victims' necks. Through a coordinated effort involving several Santa Clara County agencies, the suspect was identified as Lathan Johnson, 38, of East Palo Alto.An arrest warrant was obtained by SJPD Robbery Detectives and Johnson was arrested in coordination with the Santa Clara Police Department. An investigation revealed the suspect was responsible for a number of robberies across Santa Clara County.In addition to being charged for 14 robberies, Johnson was charged with 14 hate...

SF Supes urge governor to prioritize Bay Area public transit funding

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to provide more funding to Bay Area public transportation systems. Authored by Supervisor Dean Preston, the resolution comes as Newsom revises his January state budget before its May deadline. The drafted budget listed a $2 billion cut to public transportation funding and no operations funding for struggling transit agencies. Before it was passed, Preston hosted a rally on the steps of City Hall, which drew in transit advocates and leaders from BART, Muni and Caltrain, among others. San Francisco will pay police officers highest entry-level salary in Bay Area "We can't afford to lose public transit. Hundreds of thousands of people rely on Muni every single day to get to their jobs, to school, to the grocery store, and to the senior center," said Jeff Tumlin, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency director of transportation. "If we care about equity, if we care about t...

4/20 events Bay Area: Where to celebrate the high holiday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

(KRON) -- While the origins of 4/20 have been contested, one theory is that it started right here in the Bay Area when a group of high school students in San Rafael would gather to smoke together at 4:20 p.m. For this, among others, reasons, 4/20 remains close to many Bay Area locals' hearts.If you're looking to celebrate, here are some events around San Francisco.Hippie HillFirst mention goes to the annual Hippie Hill celebration at Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Festivities kick off on Thursday at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. and are completely free.This year's event will feature live music, on-site cannabis dispensaries and food and beverages.Patrons can enter on John F Kennedy Drive and Kezar Drive or Martin Luther King Jr Drive between Bowling Green Drive and Kezar Drive.See the full schedule online.Keep the party going at the Midway with the "Official Hippie Hill After Party" featuring DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown, Talib Kweli DJ Set and DJ Shortkut. Doors open at 8 p....

‘Tennessee three’ to visit Biden at White House next week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:38:46 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three Tennessee lawmakers who faced expulsion votes after participating in protests over last month’s school shooting in Nashville will visit the White House to meet with President Joe Biden on Monday.Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the visit on Wednesday. She said Biden was “proud” and “appreciative” to see the three state representatives calling for stronger gun restrictions, particularly a ban on so-called assault weapons.The president spoke with the lawmakers to thank them “for speaking out and for standing their ground, and being very clear about what’s needed to protect their communities,” Jean-Pierre said. The expulsion votes added a level of political drama and controversy to the violence at The Covenant School, where three children and three adults were killed.Two of the lawmakers — Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones, both Black — were expelled by the Republican-controlled legislature. The third, Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is ...