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Bus driver wins $100,000 on Powerball, promptly retires

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

It wasn’t the big jackpot, but it was apparently big enough for James Keown to decide he had enough of driving buses for a living.Keown, a school bus driver in Louisville, Kentucky, won $100,000 on the Aug. 19 Powerball drawing by matching four white ball numbers and the Powerball, and then doubling his prize with the Power Play option, lottery officials said.After confirming his winnings, Keown first picked up the phone to call his wife, Monta.“I panicked thinking something was wrong,” Monta told Kentucky Lottery officials.  “He told me, ‘I just paid off my bills.’ I said, ‘You did what?’”  ‘I just paid off my bills. I just won $100,000!’”James' next call was to work.“I called my boss on Sunday, and I told him, ‘I hit the lottery and I’m not coming back.’… I loved my job, but I’d been thinking about retiring for a while,” Keown said.He had worked as a school bus driver for 11 years.Keown and his wife claimed the prize the Monday after the drawing. He walked away with a check for $7...

Judge rejects new trial for Danny Masterson, ‘That ’70s Show’ star faces decades in prison

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson could get as much as 30 years to life in prison at his sentencing Thursday for the rapes of two women two decades ago. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo is set to sentence the 47-year-old actor after rejecting a defense motion for a new trial. She is hearing victim impact statements before issuing her ruling on what Masterson's sentence will be. The actor, who has been in custody since May, sat in court wearing a suit.“When you raped me, you stole from me,” said one woman who Masterson was convicted of raping in 2003. “That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit.”“You are pathetic, disturbed and completely violent,” she said. “The world is better off with you in prison.”The other woman Masterson was found guilty of raping said he “has not shown an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused.” She told the judge, “I knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with. I am so sor...

1 Killed in 2-Car Accident on Interstate 15 [Corona, CA]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

One Pronounced Dead after Two-Vehicle Collision near Cajalco RoadCORONA, CA (September 7, 2023) – Early Thursday afternoon, one victim was killed in a 2-car accident on Interstate 15.The incident occurred around 12:41 p.m., on the southbound lanes of the freeway near Cajalco Road.Per reports, the driver of a white pickup-truck and a sedan collided near the Cajaco off-ramp. Upon impact, the sedan overturned and ejected an occupant onto the road.Despite life-saving efforts, medics pronounced one victim dead at the scene. Although, authorities have not yet released their identity.Paramedics also transported another victim to Riverside Community Hospital with life-threatening injuries.At this time, an active investigation to determine further information is still currently underway. Once available, more details will be provided.The team at Sweet James offers their warm and sincerest sympathies to the friends and family of the deceased victim. May you find comfort and strength duri...

Rider Seriously Injured in Pursuit Crash on Interstate 10 [Phoenix, AZ]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Motorcyclist Hospitalized after Speeding Collision near 7th StreetPHOENIX, AZ (September 7, 2023) – Early Wednesday morning, one rider sustained injuries in a pursuit crash on Interstate 10.Officers responded around 12:50 a.m., near 7th Street on August 16th. Per reports, an officer attempted to perform a traffic stop on two speeding motorcyclists when one of the riders sped off.The pursuit then came to a stop near 7th Street when the rider was struck by a white pickup truck.Paramedics arrived and transported one of the riders to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center for further treatment. In addition, the rider was described as a man in his 20s.Meanwhile, crews blocked the surrounding area for a brief time during cleanup and preliminary duties. No other information was released by the investigators, and the crash is still under investigation.It is a law enforcement officer’s duty to conduct traffic stops to serve and protect the community. It could be a stressful situation for...

Mihai Pasconi Killed in Skateboard Crash on Blue Oaks Avenue [Roseville, CA]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

32-Year-Old Skateboarder Dies after Being Hit by VehicleROSEVILLE, CA (September 7, 2023) – Tuesday evening, a skateboarding incident on Blue Oaks Avenue claimed the life of Mihai Pasconi.The incident happened on August 29th, at around 9:15 p.m. near the intersection of Blue Oaks Avenue and Roseville Parkway.According to reports, Pasconi was riding his skateboard when he was struck by a speeding vehicle. The collision left Pasconi with serious injuries.First responders transported Pasconi to Sutter Medical Center for treatment.Meanwhile, the driver involved in the collision remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigators.Later at the hospital, officials pronounced 32-year-old Mihai Pasconi dead due to the extent of his condition.Following the incident, Mihai Pasconi’s sister-in-law has created a GoFundMe page to support his family in the wake of their loss.In this sorrowful time, the Sweet James team would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to the fam...

BART launches array of transit changes as “fiscal cliff” looms

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

OAKLAND — BART’s quest to increase ridership with a plan to ditch half-hour waits between trains on nights and weekends is slated to launch next week.The Bay Area transit agency will begin the new effort on Sept. 11.“No BART rider will wait more than 20 minutes for a scheduled train no matter what hour of the day or day of the week,” BART said.One result of the upcoming change is that evening service will increase by 50% seven nights a week, the transit system estimated.BART is also undertaking two other significant changes in connection with its schedule alterations.Here are the details of these BART shifts:— BART will shorten the size of the transit agency’s least-crowded trains.— The transit system will use only its “fleet of the future” trains for its base schedule.The legacy cars will be used only for event trains or special contingencies.“Our new cars are cleaner, require less maintenance, have better quality surveill...

No jail time for California man caught on video repeatedly kicking Labradoodle

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

A 34-year-old man seen on a Ring doorbell camera swinging at and kicking a Labradoodle in an Anaheim apartment complex last year has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty and was placed on one year of probation, authorities said Wednesday, Sept. 6.Albert Frank Abad Jr., 34, agreed to a court offer from Orange County Superior Court Judge Justin Glenn-Leistikow that reduced the charge from a felony, allowing  Abad Jr. to avoid jail time, said Kimberly Edds, spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.Prosecutors had sought a 30-day jail sentence, she said.Though judges have the ability to reduce crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer disagreed with Glenn-Leistikow’s decision to lower the crime, calling it “shocking” that the judge would “exercise that discretion to give a break to someone who clearly has no issue engaging in cruelty to a vulnerable animal.“The love of a dog is unconditional and to betray t...

More than 800 rescued as widespread flooding swamps Greece

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

By Chris Liakos and Christian Edwardsa | CNNMore than 800 people have been rescued over the past two days from severe floods in Greece, local officials said, after extreme rainfall turned streets into deadly rivers, tore down buildings and bridges and left whole villages submerged.The rainstorms also hit neighboring Bulgaria and Turkey, killing at least 14 people across the three countries, including four in Greece.The Greek region of Thessaly, the country’s agricultural hub, has been hit hardest by what government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis called “the biggest flood phenomenon that our country has ever experienced.”The port city of Volos, the surrounding mountainous Pelion area and the cities of Karditsa and Trikala were among the worst affected areas.The downpour has lasted days, but is expected to weaken from Thursday afternoon, according to Greece’s meteorological service. Rescue operations are now underway to try to reach those left stranded by the floodwaters, which have ex...

Single-family house sells in Oakland for $1.5 million

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

3923 Whittle Avenue – Google Street ViewA 1,712-square-foot house built in 1958 has changed hands. The property located in the 3900 block of Whittle Avenue in Oakland was sold on July 19, 2023. The $1,500,000 purchase price works out to $876 per square foot. The layout of this two-story home consists of two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The home’s outer structure has composition shingles on the roof.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:A 1,956-square-foot home on the 3900 block of Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland sold in May 2023, for $1,600,000, a price per square foot of $818. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In May 2023, a 1,140-square-foot home on Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland sold for $1,230,000, a price per square foot of $1,079. The home has 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom.On Lyman Road, Oakland, in December 2022, a 1,840-square-foot home was sold for $1,520,000, a price per square foot of $826. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

Mexico on track to elect first woman president

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

By Krupskaia Alis and Michael Rios | CNNMexico seems set to elect its first female president in next year’s election after the country’s leading parties both unveiled women candidates.Ruling party Morena said Wednesday that Claudia Sheinbaum will be its nominee for the 2024 general election. She is set to take on Senator Xóchitl Gálvez, who was nominated by the opposition coalition on Sunday.They will be vying to replace current leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who is required to step down next year as Mexican law prohibits presidents from seeking a second six-year term.Sheinbaum is a former mayor of Mexico City who has long been considered a favorite to get the nomination. She was officially named Morena’s pick after winning an internal survey on the party’s candidate.Born in Mexico City in 1962, Sheinbaum has a degree in physics and a PhD in energy engineering.She served as Mexico City’s secretary of the environment in the year 2000, when Obrador was the city’s mayor. Since the...