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Palm Springs-based pharmacy must pay nearly $1M for alleged Medi-Cal fraud

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

A Palm Springs-based pharmacy will pay the state and federal governments almost $1 million for allegedly defrauding California's Medicaid program.LASR Enterprises must repay $925,000 after allegedly seeking and receiving reimbursement from Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release.Between 2015 and 2017, "LASR and its owners sought and received a total of $155,709 in reimbursement from Medi-Cal for drugs dispensed without a valid prescription, and a total of $22,177 in reimbursement for drugs that were over-dispensed per an authorized prescription," the release said.Now, the pharmacy must pay back more than five times what was taken, Bonta said. “The Medi-Cal system supports our communities by providing access to free or affordable healthcare services for millions of Californians,” Bonta said in the release. “When providers wrongfully claim reimbursement from Medi-Cal, they are misappropriating vital resources meant to protect the healt...

Bay Area high school sports events impacted by wildfire smoke

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

The three massive fires in far northern California near the Oregon border that are sending unhealthy air down into the Bay Area have impacted several high school sports events on Wednesday.Two cross country meets were cancelled on Wednesday afternoon. The West Catholic Athletic League canceled a league-wide cross country race at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The Peninsula Athletic League cancelled a cross country race which was scheduled to be held at Half Moon Bay high school, according to San Mateo high school.The decision has been made to cancel today's WCAL I Center Meet at Golden Gate Park due to poor air quality.— WCALSports (@WCALSports) September 20, 2023Other WCAL schools have said they are canceling or postponing several events, including Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Francisco, Archbishop Mitty in San Jose.Update on today’s Monarch athletic contests. pic.twitter.com/KhoKSr7ehY— AMHS Athletics (@AMHSAthletics) September 20, 2023  Due to the un...

Ray Epps pleads guilty to Capitol riot misdemeanor charge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

By Ashraf Khalil | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Ray Epps, a onetime Donald Trump supporter who was the target of a right-wing conspiracy theory about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack that forced him into hiding, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot.Epps, appearing remotely for a hearing in Washington’s federal courthouse, entered his plea on a charge of disorderly conduct on restricted grounds a day after the case was filed in the Justice Department’s massive Jan. 6 prosecution.The judge scheduled his sentencing for Dec. 20.After the riot, he became the focus of a conspiracy theory — echoed by right-wing news outlets — that he was a secret government agent who incited the Capitol attack.Driven from his Arizona home, the former Marine and ex-member of the Oath Keepers extremist group filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News Channel this year, saying the network was to blame for spreading the baseless claims that led to death...

Palo Alto: The Good Salad opens a second Peninsula location

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Just weeks after expanding to Los Altos, the popular Santa Clara concept called The Good Salad has opened a second Peninsula eatery, in Palo Alto.The new location is open weekdays for takeout at 2051 El Camino Real. Both the original (takeout only) and the State Street Market stand (with sit-down dining at the massive food hall) are open daily.The Good Salad was founded in 2021 by Sanad Al Souz, an engineer who worked with a chef to help create the menu of meal-size salads that feature regional produce, dressings made in-house and 42 customizable ingredients.The top seller is the Blazing Bird, made with Halal Cajun chicken breast, romaine lettuce, black bean and corn pico de gallo, avocado and crispy fried onions, with house-made Chipotle Ranch Dressing and a signature balsamic glaze on the side. Add or subtract toppings as you like. Part of the appeal of The Good Salad is the pricing stricture, which allows customers to delete a topping and receive a commensurate reduction in price...

Man shot at Berkeley bus stop

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

BERKELEY — A man was shot in both legs at a Berkeley bus stop Tuesday afternoon, police said.The 26-year-old man got his own transportation to a hospital. His condition was not available Wednesday. Police have not said where he lives.The shooting happened about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at a bus stop on Sacramento Street near Oregon Street, police said.The victim was not there when police responded but physical evidence of a shooting was found, Officer Jessica Perry said.It turned out the man had gotten his own transportation to a hospital, which police were notified of about 3:48 p.m.A motive for the shooting is under investigation. No suspect information has been released and no arrests have been announced.Anyone with information about the shooting may call police at 510-981-5900.

USC football program blocks reporter’s access

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

The USC football program has suspended access to the team for two weeks for Orange County Register and Southern California News Group beat writer Luca Evans.USC coach Lincoln Riley took issue with a story published Thursday, according to Katie Ryan, Director of Football Communications. In the story, Evans wrote about a conversation that two players had while preparing to talk with the media. USC contends that Evans violated its policy prohibiting reporting on anything outside of media availabilities in the practice facility.For related news, see: Alexander: It’s not the job of USC’s Lincoln Riley or any news source to dictate coverageRyan had earlier in the season brought up concerns to SCNG editors about Evans, who is on his first season on the USC beat. They included asking a question when a press conference had been concluded and talking to players and coaches in areas on campus that weren’t designated as media availabilities.The Southern California News Group, a partner of this ...

49ers don’t rule out Brandon Aiyuk; Giants nix Saquon Barkley, two linemen

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Saquon Barkley is not the only New York Giants starter not suiting up for the 49ers home opener Thursday.Left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and left guard Ben Bredeson (concussion) were also ruled out by the Giants on Wednesday, along with outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari.The 49ers (2-0) did not rule anyone out and instead listed wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) and cornerback Ambry Thomas (knee) as questionable.Barkley played a key role in the Giants’ 31-28 comeback win over the host Arizona Cardinals before leaving late with a sprained ankle. Former 49ers running back Matt Breida (2017-19) could be in line to replace Barkley, with Gary Brightwell and rookie Eric Gray other options.Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers sign radio color commentator Tim Ryan to extension San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers’ defense is figuring it out on the fly San Francisco 49ers | 49ers QB Purdy return...

Bay Area air quality worse than officials predicted

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- San Francisco Bay Area air quality scientists were caught by surprise this week. Forecast models showed windy weather pushing hazardous smoke from Northern California's wildfires into the Bay Area. But the volume of smoke blowing into the Bay is far thicker than anticipated, scientists said. "Wildfires in Northern California and Oregon ... have generated a large smoke plume covering the entire Bay Area," said Duc Nguyen, an air quality meteorologist at Bay Area Air Quality Management District. "The majority of the Bay Area is experiencing unhealthy conditions."Overnight, winds continued blowing more wildfire smoke over highly populated cities including San Francisco and San Jose.Nguyen said, "The smoke is moving down the coastline and entering the Bay Area through the Golden Gate. The brunt of the impact is south of the Golden Gate. North of the Golden Gate, there's improvement at high elevation areas. Below that, the smoke is pretty much trapped."N...

Alameda County requiring mandatory masking of staff in healthcare facilities 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

(KRON) –  Alameda County has implemented a mask mandate for “operators of specified Health Care Facilities." This mandate is to combat the spread of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to “vulnerable patients and residents.”The program will ensure that staff wear “high quality, well-fitting masks” whenever the workers are in patient care in the facility, regardless of vaccination status.  Air quality updates: Red Flag Warning issued for interior North Bay mountains According to Alameda County, in the fall and winter of 2022, the waves of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus were substantial. This year is predicted to be the same. Since 2020, 17 percent of Alameda County residents who have passed away from COVID-19 were Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) residents.November 1 at 12:01 a.m. will be the effective date for the mandatory mask. The last date of the mandate will be April 30, 2024, contingent on the Health Officer’s data on virus sur...

Intruder stabs Napa homeowner, homeowner stabs back: police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

(KRON) -- A 61-year-old homeowner who was stabbed by an intruder Saturday morning grabbed the knife and stabbed back, according to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.The homeowner on the 5200 block of Silverado Trail in Napa, down the road from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, noticed a person on his property Saturday morning. The suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Andrew Dixon, eventually stabbed the homeowner in the back, authorities said.After being stabbed, the homeowner was able to grab the knife and then stabbed the intruder, according to the sheriff’s office. Both the homeowner and Dixon suffered non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the stabbings.Napa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Dixon for attempted murder, elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon.