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California launches guaranteed income pilot programs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

California launched its first-ever state-funded guaranteed income pilot programs on Friday.The programs will serve Ventura and San Francisco counties, providing $1,000-$1,200 per month to 150 former foster youth.The pilot programs served through the Department of Social Services, will provide “unconditional, individual, regular cash payments intended to disrupt poverty, advance equity, and support the basic needs of recipients,” state officials said.“Guaranteed income programs help level the playing field and will give these former foster youth the support and resources they need to pursue their California dream,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.The Ventura County Human Services Agency was awarded $1,538,758 and will provide recipients with $1,000 per month for 18 months.The City and County of San Francisco were awarded $3,439,090 and will provide recipients with $1,200 per month for 18 months.Officials said the former foster youth recipients who will benefit have already been identified...

Needling Through: How Body Electric’s Brian Keith Thompson Took Piercing to the Next Level

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

Like all forms of body modification, the art of piercing has evolved. Getting one’s ears pierced is common no matter your gender or age, and nobody blinks an eye at the site of a nostril, a bellybutton, an eyebrow or even a lip ring these days, though the latter three might seem a bit dated to older folk, visually tied to the early ‘90s punk and metal heyday when they became most popular and were seen all over album covers and MTV.A new generation has discovered body jewelry and adornment, and it’s not even a retro thing. Fans of goth aesthetics and fashion hubs like Dolls Kill, Killstar, and the like, have re-ignited a new piercing culture. With celebrities like Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus rocking them, they’re practically mainstream. The hashtag “piercings” has 14.7 billion views on TikTok.Recently, this writer’s own teenager requested to move beyond earlobes to the cartilage between their nostrils – the septum – and our reaction wasn’t exactly that of a “cool mom,” despite the fa...

‘I hate Black people’: San Jose officer in controversial police shooting resigns over racist text discovery

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

SAN JOSE — A San Jose officer involved in a controversial police shooting at a downtown taqueria last year — in which the wounded man broke up a fight and had disarmed a gunman before he was shot — has resigned over the discovery of racist text messages he wrote, including some making light of the shooting and one that said “I hate Black people.”Mark McNamara, who joined the San Jose Police Department in 2017, resigned earlier this week in after being notified of a probe into his offensive messages, Police Chief Anthony Mata told this news organization Friday.Mata said McNamara was being investigated by the department’s internal affairs unit for an unrelated criminal matter, which led to the revelation that the now-former officer “had sent disgusting text messages that demonstrated racial bias.”“I don’t stand for this. It’s disgusting and horrible that we have an officer that thinks that way,” Mata said. “...

An Oakley woman insisted she would never deliberately crash the car with her kids inside. But her daughter had been filming, police say

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

OAKLEY — In the aftermath of the crash that killed 21-year-old Edward Morgan, his mother granted a police interview in which she tried to explain how her Chrysler PT Cruiser had veered off the roadway as it travelled eastbound on Highway 4.Yes, she had been drinking earlier in the evening at a Mother’s Day celebration with her family in Oakland, 44-year-old Latyna Morgan allegedly told police. And yes, she’d smoked marijuana at the start of dinner, too. But she insisted she had no memory of the actual crash, and that she’d certainly never have driven off the road intentionally, she said.California Highway Patrol officers on the scene had already smelled alcohol on Latyna Morgan at the scene of the crash that night, where Edward Morgan was killed and the car’s other four occupants, including Latyna herself, were injured. But days later, when police downloaded the contents of one of the children’s cellphone, the investigation took a drastic turn.The...

Berkeley police release video of fatal police shooting at Toyota service center in September

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

(KRON) -- The Berkeley Police Department released critical incident video Friday related to a police shooting that occurred during an active shooter situation in September. Graphic videos from officers' body cameras and surveillance footage detail Berkeley PD officers responding to a report of an active shooter at a Toyota service center on the Albany border just before 11:15 a.m. on Sept. 21.Officers were dispatched to the Toyota of Berkeley Service Center at 1025 Eastshore Highway in Albany after a 9-1-1 call came in reporting an active shooter. According to the caller, a man entered the service center and shot a woman.In the video, which you can watch here (warning, graphic video), the initial 9-1-1 call reporting the active shooter can be heard. Surveillance video released by BPD appears to show the suspect, 24-year-old Lamar Walker, entering the second floor of the service center, retrieving a handgun and firing at the victim, identified as 24-year-old Alonna Gallon. Gun sto...

Gaza peace activists chain themselves to ladder on ship at Oakland port

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

(KRON) -- A large demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was held at the Port of Oakland Friday as activists attempted to prevent a federal ship from leaving the port. A banner displayed at the protest read, "No US military aid to Israel.""Cease Fire Now Action" activists held up Palestinian flags as they marched on a dock beside Cape Orlando, a reserve U.S. military vessel. Videos sent to KRON4 by the Arab Resource and Organizing Center show the crowd standing on the dock and chanting toward crew members on the moored ship. The crowd chanted, "Oakland Port blood on your hands," and, "We charge you with genocide." Law enforcement officers responded to the protest scene, including members of the U.S. Coast Guard.(Image courtesy Arab Resource and Organizing Center) Organizers with the Arab Resource and Organizing Center said they believe the ship is bound for Israel. A spokesperson for AROC wrote, "Community members demanding a ceasefire in the Israeli war against Gaza are bloc...

‘Get yourself checked out’: Knowing the signs of prediabetes before it’s too late

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

According to the CDC, one in three Americans have prediabetes, and many of them may not even know it.In D.C. alone, more than 160,000 people suffer from the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association.The same report also said that, of those at risk — but not fully diabetic yet — as many as 80% might not be aware of the symptoms and conditions of prediabetes and they don’t go to the doctor until it’s too late.This is why medical professionals in the D.C. area are raising awareness of prediabetes, what you need to know and how you can change course. It’s especially timely with the month of November being National Diabetes Awareness month.“Prediabetes is essentially a cautionary signal to your body,” said Dr. Kwame Akoto, a Maryland-based family medicine specialist with Kaiser Permanente. “Your blood sugar level is elevated, but it has not yet crossed the diabetic thresholds.”Akoto said the symptoms can mimic other illnesses, and can inc...

Md. firefighter remembered as ‘real life superhero,’ hazards of firefighting underscored

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

For the second time in a week, a Baltimore City firefighter was laid to rest as their heroism was remembered and the hazards of the job were highlighted.On Friday morning, 26-year-old Baltimore City fire Capt. Dillon Rinaldo was remembered as a gentle giant, a dependable colleague and a loving, considerate and humble fiancee.The week before, funeral services were held for 31-year-old firefighter Rodney Pitts III, who along with Rinaldo, died after fighting a row house fire in Baltimore last month.At Rinaldo’s funeral, Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller said of Rinaldo, “He lived. He served. He gave. And his legacy lives on, as does the legacy of his brother in service, Rodney Pitts III.”Rinaldo’s younger sister said of her firefighter brother, “I will always remember you as my brave, strong, and courageous older brother that was a fighter until the very end.”Lauren Ridlon, Rinaldo’s fiancee, told those gathered at the funeral service that during...

Brink has a goal and assist as the Flyers beat Sabres 5-1 to snap a 3-game skid

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Bobby Brink had a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak.Scott Laughton, Louie Belpedio, Travis Konecny, and Garnet Hathaway also scored, and Joel Farabee had two assists for the Flyers. Samuel Ersson made 22 saves in place of Carter Hart, who was injured against Buffalo on Wednesday and is day to day with a mid-body injury.Henri Jokiharju scored and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 15 saves for the Sabres, who had their two-game win streak halted.Laughton gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead 1:03 into the first period on a give-and-go play with Bobby Brink. Laughton snapped a wrist shot high over the glove of Luukkonen. Belpedio scored his first NHL goal 27 seconds later after a shot by Morgan Frost was blocked, giving the Flyers a 2-0 lead.Konecny’s breakaway goal at 14:57 of the first made it 3-0. Konecny intercepted a pass by Peterka and beat Luukkonen on the glove side. Hathaway gave the...

Cubs slugger Bellinger declines $25M option for 2024, will test market after bounce-back season

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:26:10 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs slugger Cody Bellinger declined his end of a $25 million mutual option for 2024 on Friday as expected and will test the free-agent market coming off a bounce-back season.The 2019 NL MVP, Bellinger is in line for a huge payday after hitting .307 with 26 homers and 97 RBIs. It was quite a turnaround for a player cut by the Los Angeles Dodgers in November after being limited by injuries and experiencing a drastic decline on offense. The Cubs signed Bellinger to a $17.5 million, one-year contract, and he helped them stay in playoff contention until late in the year. Chicago finished second in the NL Central at 83-79 after consecutive losing seasons.Bellinger had a $12.5 million salary this year and gets a $5 million buyout.The Cubs declined their end of a $5 million mutual option on veteran right-hander Brad Boxberger. He receives an $800,000 buyout.Boxberger was limited to 22 relief appearances because of a strained right forearm and finished with a 4.95 ERA...