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After plea deal, Richmond man has been convicted of pimping in both Contra Costa and Alameda Counties

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

OAKLAND — A Richmond man has agreed to plead no contest to pimping in exchange for a six-year prison term, according to court records.Joseph Walker, 32, was originally charged with human trafficking of a then-19-year-old woman who testified that Walker sexually assaulted her twice, and slapped her across the face on multiple occasions while he was acting as her panderer out of an Oakland hotel. She was introduced to Walker by a panderess she was with in Vallejo, she also told police.The terms of Walker’s deal required him to plead no contest to pimping and sexual battery, and agree to serve six years in prison. He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years, according to his plea form.Walker now has pimping convictions in both Contra Costa and Alameda counties. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to pimping in a Contra Costa courtroom, and was sentenced to three years in state prison. He was released on parole in early 2021, according to court records.The young woman in Wal...

It’s going to be a Santastic weekend in downtown San Jose

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

Downtown San Jose will be filled with Santa Clauses on Sunday morning as the Santa Run Silicon Valley returns for its 12th year. But you’ll have to get up pretty early this year to see all the guys and gals dressed as jolly ol’ St. Nick, or maybe an elf or a reindeer.In previous years, the 5K run/walk has taken place in the afternoon with the finish line at Christmas in the Park, allowing runners to come in as the late fall sun is setting. This year’s race will still finish at San Jose’s beloved holiday display, but it’ll start at 8 a.m. With fewer people on the road in the weekend morning, that should mean fewer traffic backups downtown and on The Alameda, which is the race’s main street.There still will be a costume contest with judging at 7:15 a.m. at the starting line at West Santa Clara Street and Almaden Avenue, and the Reindeer Dash for kids 2 to 7 will take off near the finish line 9:30 a.m.You can still register for either the in-person o...

Want to get away? Don’t decorate your vacation rental like your home

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

The place came fully furnished. That’s the good news and the bad news. Although I yearn to redecorate, a little voice inside me tells me I need to follow my own advice. Interior design Rule No. 1 is don’t buy anything until you have the whole plan in mindOh bother.I am jonesing to replace the dark brown, fake leather sofa set with a lighter-colored sectional, to update the kitchen, to change the wall color and to revisit the artwork. But I am sitting tight, until I have my decorating ducks in a row.So I call interior designer Alex McBride, program design manager for Vacasa, which handles vacation home rentals for 40,000 places throughout North America — including interior design consultation for Vacasa clients.“My job is to help new owners optimize their property by thinking of everything from headboards to pizza cutters,” McBride tells me. Her goal is to design places that have wide appeal, high durability and repeat customers. It’s one thing to design and decorate your...

49ers practicing without several starters ahead of trip to Cardinals

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

SANTA CLARA — If the 49ers indeed win Sunday to clinch the NFC West for a second straight season, they could be doing so without several would-be starters who’ve missed practice this week.Joining the injury list today was left guard Aaron Banks with a hip issue. Banke worked out in the weight room as practice began. A hyperextended toe kept Banks out the first two games of their current five-game win streak.The 49ers (10-3) currently sit atop the NFC playoff standings and holding a four-game lead in the division. They will fly out after Saturday morning’s walk-through practice to take on the last-place Cardinals (3-10). View this post on InstagramA post shared by Cam Inman (@49ers.cam)Also not practicing were defensive tackles Arik Armstead (foot, knee) and Javon Hargrave (hamstring), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hip, ankle), cornerback Charvarius Ward (groin), tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle), outside linebacker Oren Burks (knee) and running back Elijah Mitchell (knee)...

Renowned Napa Valley winemaker Mijenko 'Mike' Grgich dies at 100

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

(KRON) -- Mijenko "Mike" Grgich, a renowned and beloved figure in the Napa Valley wine scene has died at 100, according to a post on his winery's website. Grgich became internationally famous in the wine world when he crafted the Chardonnay that won the 1976 Judgement of Paris.That year marked a watershed moment in the wine world when two Napa Valley wines won top honors over renowned French wines in a blind tasting conducted by French wine critics. Grgich was born the youngest of 11 children in the village of Desne, Croatia, according to the memorial posted by his winery, Grgich Hills Estate. His father also made wine and some of his earliest memories were of "stomping grapes at harvest," his winery said. ‘I’m sick of the lies’: Frank Somerville owns up to dark side, problems with alcohol It was "after living through harrowing experiences in World War II" that he decided to become a winemaker like his father, his winery said. He went on to study enology and viticulture at the Uni...

Liberty’s Chadwell wins Bryant Award as top coach among Group of Five programs

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell has been named the Paul “Bear” Bryant Group of Five coach of the year after guiding the Flames to a 13-0 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 in his first season with the team.Chadwell also is a finalist for the Bryant coach of the year award, which also includes coaches from Power Five conferences. The others are David Braun (Northwestern), Kalen DeBoer (Washington), Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri), Rhett Lashlee (SMU), Mike Norvell (Florida State), Nick Saban (Alabama) and Steve Sarkisian (Texas).The Flames rose to No. 18 in the Top 25 after beating New Mexico State 49-35 for the Conference USA championship. The also moved into the College Playoff Poll for the final three weeks, finishing at No. 23.They will face No. 8 Oregon in the bowl game.___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here.___AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/c...

Bucs’ Baker Mayfield hoping for better results in his latest visit to Lambeau

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is visiting Lambeau Field in December for a third straight year, each time with a different team.This season’s version of Mayfield could give the Green Bay Packers the most problems.Mayfield threw four interceptions in Cleveland’s 24-22 loss to Green Bay on Christmas Day 2021 that marked his second-to-last appearance with the Browns, who took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. He went 12 of 21 for 111 yards with a touchdown and an interception on Dec. 19 of last year as the Los Angeles Rams lost 24-12.He has played at Lambeau enough to know what to expect when his Bucs (6-7) visit the Packers (6-7) on Sunday.“I’ve only played there in December, so yeah, it’s kind of hit or miss with the weather and what you’re going to get,” Mayfield said. “Guys just have to be prepared for the grass. That’s something I learned pretty quickly – it’s slick. This late in the year, obviously it’s not in t...

3 injured in single-vehicle crash near Rockville courthouse

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

Three people were injured after a single-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon near a Montgomery County, Maryland, courthouse.Police said the crash happened around 2:30 p.m. on East Montgomery Avenue in Rockville near the Montgomery County Circuit CourthouseRockville City Police say all three people were taken to the hospital with various injuries.It is also unclear whether the driver of the striking vehicle remained on the scene. This story is developing. Check back with WTOP for the latest. Source

Lennar: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — MIAMI (AP) — Lennar Corp. (LEN) on Thursday reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $1.36 billion.The Miami-based company said it had net income of $4.82 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $5.17 per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $4.64 per share.The homebuilder posted revenue of $10.97 billion in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Eight analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $10.34 billion.For the year, the company reported profit of $3.94 billion, or $13.73 per share. Revenue was reported as $34.23 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LEN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LENSource

Denver contractor indicted on fraud, racketeering, charged in 11 burglary cases

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:58:11 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A Denver County grand jury has indicted a contractor on 39 counts, including securities fraud, theft and violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, and he's also accused in several home burglaries.According to the grand jury indictment, Kyle Arienta initially stole about $1.1 million from three families who hired him to complete construction projects on their Denver-area homes and stole another $1.7 million from investors through September of this year. New Mexico man found guilty of murdering woman found at Boulder trailhead Separate from the indictment, Arienta also faces 11 counts of attempted or completed home burglaries that happened primarily in Denver’s Crestmoor, Hilltop, Washington Park and Belcaro neighborhoods in November. Further cases are under investigation.“Mr. Arienta is accused of violating the trust of numerous clients and friends, as well as burglarizing numerous homes, and these charges are an important step toward holding him acc...