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California judge must reconsider effort to block Catholic diocese libel suit, appellate court rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

A trial court must reconsider its denial of a motion to block a libel suit stemming from an email allegedly containing a false insinuation that Diocese of Orange Bishop Kevin Vann used Orange Catholic Foundation funds to cover legal expenses for clergy accused of child sex abuse, a state appellate court has ruled.Suzanne Nunn, former interim executive director of the foundation, sent the email to 47 Catholic leaders throughout the country after Vann unilaterally terminated her and the organization’s board of directors in June 2020.In the three-page email that bore the subject line, “You can’t make this stuff up,” Nunn asked a series of rhetorical questions regarding her firing and that of the board.“Is this considered a hostile take-over to distribute funds the diocese needs to cover debt? Lawsuits?”  she asked, according to the appellate court. “Is this an overstep of authority? Is this the result of fatigue from the economic impact of the COVID crisis in addition to other financia...

Americans insist on 300 miles of EV range. They’re right

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

By Tom Randall | BloombergAmericans love a good road trip. There’s nothing better than packing up your stuff, turning up the music, and just — driving. For more than a century, summertime dreams have been fueled by the limitless possibilities of a full tank of gas.That same “live free or die” mentality has also made the US, until recently, slower to adopt electric cars. The open road is freedom, and the need to frequently stop and charge an intrusion. Last year, plug-in vehicles made up less than 8% of new-car sales in the US — far behind Europe’s 32% EV adoption rate and China’s 30% uptake.These places got a head start in part by embracing tiny EVs with small batteries and limited range. By contrast, a survey conducted last year by Bloomberg Green found that fewer than 10% of US respondents would settle for anything less than 200 miles of range. More recent number-crunching on ranges for EVs sold in the US found that:Americans are demanding the longest ranges in the world, roughly ...

California reparations task force to recommend ‘down payments’ for slavery, racism 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

The California Reparations Task Force published documents this week indicating it plans to recommend the state apologize for racism and slavery, and consider “down payments” of varying amounts to eligible African American residents.The documents, numbering more than 500 pages, do not contain an overall price tag for reparations, but they do include ways the state could calculate how much money African Americans in California have lost since the state was established in 1950 because of certain government practices.The loss calculations would vary depending on type of racial harm and how long a person has lived in California. The loss estimates range from $2,300 per person per year of residence for the over-policing of Black communities to $77,000 total per person for Black-owned business losses and devaluations over the years.The state-appointed task force faces a July 1 deadline to make reparations recommendations to the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Task force leaders have sai...

7 awesome Bay Area things to do this weekend, May 5-7

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

Bay Area folks can’t live on Dubs playoff games alone (we know, we’ve tried). Fortunately there are a lot of other cool things to see, do and eat and drink this weekend, from an amazing new superhero movie to baseball stadium delights to a certain royal celebration across the pond.As with everything these days, be sure to double check websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.1 WATCH: Now THIS is a superhero movieThe third “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie comes out this week, and it’s not only the best of the lot, it’s one of the best superhero movies released in a long time. It tops our roundup of new shows and movies you should totally watch this weekend.2 PLAY & WATCH: It’s coronation timeWe Yanks, ignoring the irony of ...

Tesla EV charging station fight between two men escalates into fatal shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

A fight between two men at a Tesla electric vehicle charging station in Edgewater, Colorado, on Wednesday morning led to a fatal shooting, and police have launched a homicide investigation focused on the source of their dispute.Edgewater is a small city just west of Denver.Other adult male initially left scene but called 911 to report his involvement and is currently being detained by @COEdgewaterPD.— Jeffco Sheriff (@jeffcosheriffco) May 3, 2023 The shooting happened around 9:40 a.m. in one of the six or so Tesla charging stations in the parking lot of the Edgewater Public Market, in the 5500 block of West 20th Avenue in Edgewater, Jefferson County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Jenny Fulton said at the scene.One man initially left the scene and then called 911 to report his involvement in the fight. Police arrested him later at his residence on Xavier Street in Denver.The victim, who drove a Tesla, died at 10:20 a.m. after he was taken to a hospital, Fulton said. Both men had a ...

NYC chokehold death of Jordan Neely ruled a homicide as outrage grows over subway killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

The caught-on-video chokehold death of a homeless, mentally-ill Michael Jackson impersonator by a former U.S. Marine aboard a Manhattan subway train was ruled a homicide on Wednesday as anger and protests erupted over the killing.The city Medical Examiner found the cause of victim Jordan Neely’s Monday death was compression of the neck. The finding is a critical piece of the investigation as police said they were awaiting the results of the autopsy before determining if criminal charges should be filed.The determination came after friends and elected officials expressed outrage over the death, insisting the homeless busker didn’t deserve to die. Neely, 30, was a familiar sight around town, performing in Times Square and on subways as the King of Pop.“NYC is not Gotham,” city Comptroller Brad Lander tweeted. “We must not become a city where a mentally ill human being can be choked to death by a vigilante without consequence.”At least three people were cuffed following a demonstration...

Golden Gate Park becomes a wild Wonderland in immersive ‘Alice’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

Lewis Carroll’s “Alice” books are a perfect match for We Players.The San Francisco troupe specializes in site-specific theater that usually involves a lot of walking from place to place in parks and other picturesque settings. Along the way the audience encounters larger-than-life characters enacting familiar scenes, often adapted from Shakespeare or ancient epics.Carroll’s novels “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass” similarly take their titular heroine on a tangled journey stumbling into all kinds of strange wonders.In We Players’ “Adventures with Alice,” adapted and directed by founding artistic director Ava Roy, we follow Alice through the verdant lands of Golden Gate Park into one bizarre encounter after another. (Another run is planned for late September in Saratoga.)Our Alice is Regina Léon, brimming with youthful enthusiasm and understandable befuddlement. She makes a perfect point person for all the tomfoolery, with indefatigable curiosity and e...

'We Are Bruce Lee' exhibit in SF Chinatown honors iconic martial arts star

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The late Bruce Lee was many things; action star, philosopher, and trailblazer. In 1970’s Hollywood, not a lot of people looked like him, and even fewer could do what he could do. Eighties rock anthem dropped as SF Pride’s theme after singer’s controversial tweet It’s easy to forget that Lee was born here in San Francisco's Chinatown. Although his life journey took him from Seattle, to Hollywood and to the Hong Kong film industry, Lee left an indellible mark on the Bay Area. Currently in Chinatown, not too far from the hospital where he was born, there’s an exhibit all about the legend.KRON 4’s Stephanie Lin takes us there.Watch the video above for the story.

Larkspur Homekey site for unsheltered set to open in August, despite community pushback

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

(BCN) -- Marin County this week released an update on the progress of its supported living site in Larkspur, a complex for unsheltered people that created some controversy last year from residents who opposed it. The site, located in an old skilled nursing facility at 1251 S. Eliseo Drive, was first put forth by the county in 2021 as a way to house unsheltered residents through the state's Homekey program. Oakland teachers to strike starting Thursday after no deal is reached with school district Homekey ascribes to the "housing first" philosophy that people living with chronic homelessness and mental illness should have roofs over their heads to better stabilize their lives so that they can tackle their other issues. The site will house between 43 and 50 people who have experienced chronic homelessness. According to Gary Naja-Riese, director of homelessness and whole person care for Marin County, the complex will have 24/7 staff presence, including on-site property man...

Investor buys Caribbean isles once owned by Jeffrey Epstein

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:43:25 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A U.S. investor has bought two Caribbean islands that were once owned by the late Jeffrey Epstein and where authorities allege many of the disgraced financier’s crimes took place.Stephen Deckoff, with SD Investments LLC, bought Great St. James and Little St. James islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands for $60 million and plans to build an exclusive resort, a spokesman told The Associated Press on Thursday. The islands were on sale for a total of $110 million.The investment firm said in a statement that a significant portion of the sale proceeds will go toward the U.S. Virgin Island’s government as part of a previous deal with Epstein’s estate.Forbes first reported the purchase of the islands on Wednesday.The 25-room resort is slated to open in 2025 and is expected to boost tourism and create jobs, the firm said.The islands were originally for sale at $55 million each. Little St. James, which locals had nicknamed “Pedophile Island,” has three beaches, ...