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GOP probe finds Texas AG Paxton likely broke laws in office

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

By Paul J. Weber | Associated PressAUSTIN, Texas — A Republican-led investigation on Wednesday accused Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of committing multiple crimes in office — including felonies — during an extraordinary public airing of scandal and alleged lawbreaking that plunged one of the GOP’s conservative stars into new political and legal risk.For more than three hours, investigators presented findings alleging Paxton sought to hide an affair, misused his office to help a donor, skirted protocols “grossly outside” norms and built a culture of fear and retaliation in his office. Investigators told the GOP-led House General Investigating Committee that there was evidence that Paxton repeatedly broke the law over the years, including by misusing official information, abusing his official capacity and retaliation.The dramatic turn of events in the Texas Capitol unleashed a new test of Paxton’s durability in a way he has not previously confronted despite...

Ribs & rails: Roaring Camp hosting its first-ever BBQ Cook-Off

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

Roaring Camp Railroads will kick off Memorial Day Weekend by holding a two-day BBQ Cook-Off — its first-ever — this Saturday and Sunday, followed on Monday by a family day featuring the Watsonville Community Band.On Saturday, more than 15 pitmaster teams will compete for cash, trophies and bragging rights in this official Kansas City Barbeque Society event, a traditional four-meat competition (chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder, beef brisket). On Sunday, backyard barbecue teams will square off.Guests may purchase wooden coins for tastes (one for $6 and five for $20) or combine coins for a full meal — and then cast their vote for People’s Choice. Shanty Shack of Santa Cruz is pouring brews at the event. Food and beer sales hours start at 11 a.m.Family entertainment both days will include Karen the Cow Girl and her rope tricks, Old West card games with faro dealers, live music and bounce houses.For attendees who want to ride before or after eating, the steam tra...

SF Giants’ sloppy defense returns with a vengeance, costs them series sweep vs. Twins

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS — The Giants’ disastrous defense from last season had so far been a nonissue through their first 48 games of 2023. It returned with a vengeance Wednesday afternoon, as San Francisco committed a trio of errors and could have been credited with more while failing to complete a sweep of the Twins.It was sloppy effort all around from the Giants (24-25), who lost 7-1, and fell back under .500. They have not owned a winning record since Aug. 17 of last season.Starter Anthony DeSclafani was tagged for seven runs over five-plus innings, but only four were earned. He allowed a pair of home runs, hit a batter, issued a pair of walks and threw two pitches past catcher Blake Sabol, one wild pitch and one passed ball, that each also led to runs.The Twins also committed a pair of errors, but the Giants ensured they wouldn’t be as costly as their own.San Francisco’s trouble with timely hitting over the first two games of the series — a combined 3-for-20 with runners i...

Bay Area arts: 8 great shows to see this weekend and beyond

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

There are a lot of great shows to see over Memorial Day weekend and beyond; including a collection of humongous dinosaurs, the marvelous Meklit and much more. Here’s a partial rundown.Super-sized dinos stalk S.F.Kids (and most parents) love dinosaurs, right? And the bigger the better.And that’s exactly what we’re getting with a new exhibit featuring plus-sized prehistoric behemoths opening this weekend at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.Captivatingly titled “The World’s Largest Dinosaurs,” the exhibit, organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, goes on a deep dive into the lives of the long-necked and long-tailed sauropods, whose ranks include the famed 60-foot-long Mamenchisaurus. And we’re not just talking about fossilized bone collections and skeletal reproductions (although there are plenty of those). The exhibit also examines how these creatures’ massive sizes were sustained by, and influe...

Honolulu-bound flight from SFO turned back due to mechanical issue

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A Honolulu-bound United flight that left San Francisco International Airport shortly before noon Wednesday has turned around and is heading back to SFO due to a mechanical issue, United Airlines confirmed to KRON4 News. The flight, United Airlines 2380 took off shortly before 11:30 a.m. Pacific time and was scheduled to arrive in Honolulu at 2 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time. Suspect identified after fatal crash at Potrero Hill bus stop However, less than an hour after taking off, the flight abruptly turned around and headed back to SFO. The airplane, a Boeing 757, has 223 passengers aboard and seven crew members, a United representative confirmed."We anticipate the flight arriving back in San Francisco within the hour and we’ll work to get our customers to their destinations as quickly as possible," a United Airlines spokesperson told KRON4.

Suspect identified after fatal crash at Potrero Hill bus stop

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

(KRON) -- A suspect has been identified following a carjacking and fatal collision at a bus stop near Franklin Square on Tuesday morning. Why do some parents kill their kids? Carlo Watson, 57, is the man suspected of the carjacking. Police say they first received a call about a carjacking of a city-owned vehicle around 10 a.m. near Folsom and Mabini streets. SFPD officers and San Francisco Sheriff deputies spotted the suspect vehicle near Kansas and 25th streets before pursuing him. Police say that's when the collision at 16th and Potrero avenues took place. The suspect and four other people were injured in the crash. One of the victims, a 58-year-old man died of his injuries at the scene. Three other victims include a 57-year-old woman, 37-year-old man and 70-year-old woman who each suffered non-life threatening injuries. SFPD Robbery Investigators and the Traffic Collision Investigations Unit arrived at the scene to investigate. Watson was detained at the scene...

'Notorious fence' arrested again in San Francisco, prosecutors say

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A San Francisco man described by prosecutors as a "notorious fence" was arrested for reselling a stockpile of stolen valuables. Quoc Le, 32, was arrested by police officers on May 18 at his home on Alemany Boulevard. Prosecutors charged Le with possession of stolen goods for the third time in four years.  Le was already facing the same charges for crimes that occurred in 2019 and 2022. Le was released from custody in those cases and was subject to court-ordered GPS monitoring. While out on bail, Le continued selling stolen valuables, prosecutors said. "Fences, people who sell stolen goods for profit, play a major role in the criminal theft rings that plague our city," District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said. "The fact that thieves know they can easily sell their stolen goods to these fences incentives them to steal more and more. It is imperative that we do everything we can to undermine these sophisticated criminal networks and prevent on-going theft and prope...

Movie review: Julia Louis-Dreyfus reteams with Nicole Holofcener in ‘You Hurt My Feelings’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

If I didn’t like Nicole Holofcener’s latest film, would I tell her?OK, sure, it wouldn’t be so odd for a critic to give an unvarnished opinion. But what about a sibling? Or a spouse? If they didn’t care for Holofcener’s movie, what’s more important: Being honest or making a loved one feel good about themselves? Do any of us really want straightforward feedback or do we just want emotional support?That’s the rich vein that Holofcener, a master of nagging neuroses, mines so expertly in “You Hurt My Feelings” – a film that I very much adored. I swear.For Holofcener, something as commonplace as little white lies between a married couple is just as fertile territory as, say, time travel is to Christopher Nolan. To her, such a minefield of insecurity is a playground. And in “You Hurt My Feelings,” it’s glorious — albeit in a profoundly awkward way that can be mortifying — to watch her at play. Beth (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a writer, and her husband, Don (Tobias Menzies), a therapist, are a ...

Pennsylvania high court appears split over plan to force power plants to pay for carbon emissions

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Justices on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court indicated Wednesday that they are likely to have split opinions on whether a governor has the right to force power plant owners to pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, or whether he first needs approval from a Legislature that refuses to go along with the plan.Hanging in the balance is Pennsylvania’s effort to become the first major fossil fuel-producing state to adopt carbon pricing.On Wednesday, the state’s highest court listened to arguments on whether a lower court was right last summer to halt Pennsylvania’s participation in a multistate consortium that imposes a price and declining cap on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.But the justices repeatedly turned the conversation to the underlying legal question still being considered by the lower court: whether former Gov. Tom Wolf usurped the Legislature’s constitutional authority to approve any form of taxation.In that dispute, R...

Houser continues his surge as Brewers win 4-0, shut out Astros for 2nd straight game

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:28:41 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Adrian Houser’s emergence is providing a major boost for the Milwaukee Brewers’ decimated pitching staff.Houser allowed two hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings and the Brewers homered three times in a 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon. This comes five days after Houser pitched six shutout innings in a 1-0 loss at Tampa Bay.His surge is a huge lift for a Brewers pitching staff that is dealing with shoulder injuries to two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff, Eric Lauer, Wade Miley and Aaron Ashby.“We’re thin on starting pitching right now, but you can’t put pressure on yourself,” Houser said. “The game’s already hard enough as it is. So you just have to go out there, have fun, relax and go compete your butt off.”Willy Adames hit a two-run homer in the first inning to put the Brewers ahead for good. Owen Miller and Brian Anderson added solo shots in the seventh.That was more than enough offense for Houser (1-0), who struck out three a...