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Feds search NYC home of top fundraiser for Mayor Adams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

By Jake Offerhartz and Michael Balsamo | Associated PressNEW YORK — Federal agents on Thursday raided the home of a top fundraiser and longtime confidante to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who abruptly ditched a planned White House meeting and flew home from Washington.Agents searched the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that a court-authorized law enforcement action had been carried out at the address, but declined to comment further.Vito Pitta, an attorney for the Adams campaign, said the mayor was not contacted as part of the inquiry. “The campaign has always held itself to the highest standards,” Pitta added. “The campaign will of course comply with any inquiries, as appropriate.”Suggs, who did not respond to a request for comment, is a campaign consultant to Adams who raised money for his election effort and also lobbied his administration on behalf of a real estat...

Letters: Prioritize climate | Kids and computers | Prop. 13

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.San Ramon shouldprioritize climateClimate change is a pressing issue affecting our daily lives, with wildfires in the San Francisco Bay Area and California highlighting its impact. The San Ramon City Council has been unresponsive for over two years to the San Ramon Valley Climate Coalition’s pleas for action.The Council’s responses, like “planting more trees” or shifting blame to regional authorities, fall short. We can no longer rely on tree planting to combat CO2 emissions, and we need an updated climate action plan. It’s time to push the San Ramon City Council for a climate emergency declaration and establish a sustainability task force. This task force can guide the city staff and other commissions in actively participating in climate solutions while saving money.It’s crucial that we unite to address this existential threat.Sue BockBoard Member, San Ramon Valley Cl...

Maine mass shooting highlights series of missed chances

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

By David Sharp and Lindsay Whitehurst | Associated PressPORTLAND, Maine — Across the nation, much of the debate around gun rights and restrictions centers on mental health. Many advocates on both sides agree that getting people with serious mental illness into treatment, and then preventing those who are dangerous from accessing guns, is key to preventing mass shootings.Yet in the weeks and months before the mass shooting in Lewiston, there were so many warning signs from the killer that people all around him were raising concerns to authorities. He was still able to massacre 18 people, wound another 13 and shatter a community’s sense of security.Lawmakers want answers as to why laws in two states — Maine and New York — didn’t prevent the tragedy.“It’s a massive failure,” said Republican state Sen. Lisa Keim, sponsor of Maine’s so-called “yellow flag” law. “This one, it seems that there were too many touchpoints for neither law t...

Letters: Valley’s gem | Climate change | Reform permitting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Save Reid-Hillview,the Valley’s gemRe: “The EPA finally confirms the dangers of leaded airplane fuel” (Page A8, Oct. 22).Reid-Hillview Airport is a gem — the basis of dreams for kids, a safety net at a time of crisisand part of our world-renowned aviation industry.Cindy Chavez spent years trying to close Reid-Hillview Airport to further real estate interests, which will add traffic to already crowded streets, tax water, sewer, the electric grid and other infrastructure. Using fear of lead poisoning, she neglects to mention that Reid-Hillview no longer sells leaded aviation fuel, that the soil tested around the airport shows no more lead than other areas of the county and is not at a dangerous level. Reid-Hillview should be protected and promoted.Susan BatesSunnyvaleCongress must actto slow climate changeRe: “Warnings about climate change begin heating up” (Page A1, Nov. 1).K...

Smoke in San Francisco today is from prescribed burn in North Bay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Smoke seen and smelled in San Francisco and around the Bay Area Thursday afternoon is related to a prescribed burn taking place in the North Bay, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. "Smoke from a prescribed burn near San Rafael is impacting Marin County and SF," the BAAQMD posted. "A temperature inversion is also trapping pollutants from sources like wood burning and vehicle pollution near the ground. If you smell smoke, avoid exposure." Contra Costa County health officials link tuberculosis cases to casino Firefighters are undertaking wildfire prevention work at China Camp State Park in San Rafael Thursday, according to the San Rafael Fire Department. Thursday's burn is the second of two prescribed fires and was scheduled for between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m."Neighborhoods surrounding China Camp State Park may see and smell smoke," SRFD said in a tweet.The Central Marin Fire District also addressed the smoke in the air, putting out a post th...

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried convicted of defrauding cryptocurrency customers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal jury convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried on Thursday of fraud charges accusing him of stealing about $10 billion from customers and investors in what a prosecutor says was one of the biggest frauds in U.S. history.The verdict came quickly after a Manhattan federal court jury began deliberating midway through the afternoon. YouTube opens new offices in San Bruno Bankman-Fried, 31, could face decades in prison after prosecutors said he cheated thousands of customers of billions of dollars before the collapse of his companies in November, 2022. Prosecutors said he spent the money on investments, real estate, promotions for his cryptocurrency exchange and political contributions.He was extradited from the Bahamas to the United States in December. Originally freed on a $250 million personal recognizance bond to live with his parents in Palo Alto, California, he was jailed in August after Judge Lewis A. Kaplan concluded that he had tried to tamper with poss...

Antioch man remains missing days after vehicle went into Sacramento River, CHP says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

(FOX40.COM) — Sacramento County-area authorities are searching for a man who has not been seen since the vehicle he was allegedly driving went into the Sacramento River near the community of Locke on Oct. 27. California Highway Patrol said a single vehicle went into the river near River Road and Twin Cities Road, just north of Locke, which is located approximately 30 miles south of Sacramento. Suspect who led police on chase from SF to Martinez identified Officers determined that the vehicle was heading southbound on River Road when it left the west roadway edge and entered the water, becoming fully submerged. CHP said a man and a woman were found along the river's edge who said they had escaped from the vehicle. Smoke in San Francisco today is from prescribed burn in North Bay Both people, who are from Yolo County, told officers that a 35-year-old man from Antioch had been driving the vehicle. CHP said that a search took place, but the driver was not found. The vehicle was ta...

Gun store owner convicted in Santa Clara County sheriff CCW scandal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

(KRON) -- A Milpitas business owner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to solicit a bribe, the latest development in a bombshell case that led to former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith’s resignation, prosecutors said Thursday.Gun shop owner Michael Nichols, 48, of Milpitas, will serve one year in county jail for his role in a gun permit scheme allegedly orchestrated under Smith's administration. According to prosecutors, members of the sheriff's office traded concealed carry weapon permits, also known as CCWs, in exchange for various donations, including some donations made to Smith’s re-election campaign.Nichols was an "important middleman in the scheme," prosecutors said.Smith, the sheriff for more than two decades, resigned last year. Days after she stepped down, Smith was found guilty in a civil trial that relied on the evidence compiled by the District Attorney's criminal probe. The DA’s Office said its investigation has resulted in four convictions so far, as well as Sm...

Retail trade group: holiday sales expected to slow to 3% to 4%, compared with 5.4% growth a year ago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, expects shoppers will spend more this year than last year, but their spending pace will slow given all the economic uncertainty.The group forecast Thursday that U.S. holiday sales will rise 3% to 4% for November through December, compared with a 5.4% growth of a year ago. Sales for the two-month period will increase to between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion, the group predicted. The pace is consistent with the average annual holiday increase of 3.6% from 2010 to pre-pandemic 2019. Americans ramped up spending during the pandemic, which accounted for some outsized sales numbers. For the holiday 2021 season, sales for the two-month period surged 12.7%.The forecast comes as shoppers keep spending, powered by sturdy hiring, low unemployment and healthy household finances. That’s despite still higher prices — though inflation has eased — and higher interest rates that make getting a mortgage...

Giants not exactly facing the team they expected in the Raiders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:36 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — When the week began, the New York Giants thought they were preparing for a Josh McDaniels-coached team quarterbacked by Jimmy Garoppolo.But after a rough Monday night performance at Detroit on national TV, the Las Vegas Raiders fired McDaniels — and others — and benched Garoppolo.Antonio Pierce, who played for the Giants in 2005-09, will be the Raiders’ interim coach and rookie Aidan O’Connell the starting QB when the teams meet Sunday.“I’ve been on the other side of that, too,” New York coach Brian Daboll said. “You have to really focus on your team and getting prepared and watching all the games. You can only do so much.”The Giants (2-6) get back starting quarterback Daniel Jones and hope his return and a defense that has allowed 34 points over three games can lead the way to a victory over Las Vegas (3-5). That could be quite a challenge to a Raiders offense that hasn’t scored 20 points this season — Las Vegas scored 21 points against the New En...