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Police step up patrols during Hanukkah celebration in Beverly Hills

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

As the first of the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah kicks off, some in the Jewish community have expressed concern about the rise in antisemitic sentiment amid the war between Israel and Hamas, while others say the point of the Festival of Lights is to celebrate outwardly and proudly. The ancient tradition of Hanukkah marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of a small pot of oil lasting for eight nights.  The fear for some of those observing the tradition is that displaying their Jewish symbols and religious practices could make them a target.  “I definitely have felt and have seen a rise in antisemitism,” Alexandra Novak told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff. “You see it around town, but obviously, we are still going to celebrate Hanukkah.”  The Anti-Defamation League reports a staggering 300% rise in hateful incidents and rhetoric targeting the Jewish community since Oct. 7 when Hamas launched its brutal and bloody attack on Israeli soil.  Sti...

Hunter Biden indicted on 9 tax charges, adding to earlier gun charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

By Lindsay Whitehurst | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Hunter Biden was indicted on nine tax charges in California on Thursday as a special counsel investigation into the business dealings of the president’s son intensifies against the backdrop of the looming 2024 election.The new charges — three felonies and six misdemeanors — come in addition to federal firearms charges in Delaware alleging Hunter Biden broke a law against drug users having guns in 2018.He had been previously expected to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges as part of a plea deal with prosecutors who said he failed to pay taxes on $4 million in personal income in 2017 and 2018. Defense attorneys have signaled they plan to fight any new charges.The agreement imploded in July after a judge raised questions about it. It had also been pilloried as a “sweetheart deal” by Republicans investigating nearly every aspect of Hunter Biden’s business dealings as well as the Justice Department’s h...

Rising Haley takes the brunt of attacks at Trumpless debate

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

By Bill Barrow and Jonathan J. Cooper | Associated PressTUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Four Republican presidential candidates were given several opportunities Wednesday to criticize former President Donald Trump, who was absent from the debate again. But they mostly targeted each other, with former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley taking the brunt of the attacks as she gets more interest from donors and voters.With just over a month before the 2024 primary calendar begins, the debate demonstrated how firm Trump’s grip remains on the party.But the focus on Haley reflected how other candidates perceive her as a threat to their chances of taking on Trump directly. Aside from former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, most the candidates have spent more time in debates going after each other than taking aim at Trump, reflecting the former president’s popularity among Republicans and what many see as diminishing returns in attacking him.The last scheduled debate before Iowa’s GOP...

Former Warriors GM Bob Myers shares a regret from 2020 NBA Draft

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

Former Warriors general manager Bob Myers revisited the pivotal 2020 NBA Draft and shared a little remorse.A disastrous 2020 season for the Warriors gave them the opportunity to draft a player second overall into a still-open contention window. They took James Wiseman, a raw 7-foot center out of Memphis who did not pan out in Golden State; that whiff became even more costly as the players they passed on, such as 12th-overall pick Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, took off.On a pre-game segment for the In-Season Tournament on Thursday for ESPN’s “NBA Countdown,” Myers said he should have known Haliburton would be a star when the guard impressed Golden State’s brass in a pre-draft workout four years ago.“Let’s talk about that. That workout was a few miles from here in Vegas,” Myers said on the show. “Myself, Steve Kerr, Joe Lacob and he did what he does. He made a ton of shots and we looked at each other and said ‘he might be ...

What to know about the Hall & Oates legal battle

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

By Jonathan Mattise | Associated PressNASHVILLE, Tenn. — After more than a half-century of making music together, Daryl Hall is suing John Oates and arguing in arbitration that he can’t sell his share of a Hall & Oates business partnership without Hall’s permission.Public court filings have revealed just how wide the rift has grown between the duo famous for hits in the 1970s and ’80s, including “Maneater,” “Rich Girl” “Kiss on My List” and “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do).”Hall has accused Oates of blindsiding and betraying him, saying their relationship and his trust in Oates have deteriorated. Oates has said he is “deeply hurt” that Hall is making “inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate statements” about him.A Nashville judge recently paused the sale of Oates’ stake in Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC until an arbitrator weighs in, or ...

Oakland coffee shop apologizes after customer was denied access to bathroom containing antisemitic graffiti

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

(KRON) -- An Oakland coffee shop posted an apology on social media after a viral video showed presumed employees denying a customer access to a bathroom that had antisemitic graffiti written on it. The incident at Farley's East, located at 33 Grand Ave, was captured on a video that went viral on social media. The video shows three employees standing in between the customer and the door of the bathroom. According to the video, the customer had previously gone into the bathroom and wanted to re-enter to document the graffiti. Man arrested in connection with death of SF tech worker After the customer said she wanted to go into the restroom, one of the employees responded, "I know Israel loves taking private property and saying it's their own, but *indiscernible.*"The employees said they have a "right to refuse service" and asked the woman to leave, before offering to let her use another restroom. About 1:15 into the video, she was finally allowed in.The video shows "Zionism = fasci...

'Large' quantity of merchandise stolen from LensCrafters in downtown SF

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Police are looking for suspects in connection to a theft at a LensCrafters on Thursday afternoon, the San Francisco Police Department said. The theft happened around 3:30 p.m. in the Union Square location at 685 Market St.Witness said a group of juveniles entered the store and stole a "large quantity of merchandise," according to SFPD. The suspects were able to escape before police arrived.Officers were at the scene of a theft at LensCrafters in downtown San Francisco on Dec. 7 (Citizen App). LEGO Store at San Francisco Centre mall closes As of Thursday evening, no arrests have been made in connection to the theft. Citizen App video (above) from the scene shows SFPD officers investigating the theft. SFPD says anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 415-575-4444.

Student pulls knife in fight at Santa Rosa middle school, possibly gang-related

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

(KRON) -- A Santa Rosa middle school was put on lockdown Thursday morning after a 13-year-old student brandished a knife during a potentially gang-related fight inside a classroom, Santa Rosa police officials said.Around 8:25 a.m., a fight broke out between three 13-year-old students at Herbert Slater Middle School, police said. It was then reported that one of the students brandished a large knife during the fight before running off campus into the surrounding neighborhood, police said. The school was put on lockdown. Police responded to the incident and learned that two 13-year-old boys entered a classroom, approached a third 13-year-old boy and started punching him, knocking him to the ground. The two students who allegedly initiated the fight then fled the classroom, but the student who was attacked followed them into the hallway where he allegedly brandished a large kitchen knife and tried to lunge at one of the alleged aggressors, police said.After a teacher deescalated the si...

Vikings and Raiders meet with both hoping to stay on a path to the playoffs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The paths Minnesota and Las Vegas took to get to this point in the NFL season have not been an easy one.Both teams have had upheaval — backup quarterbacks now starting for each club, a coaching change for the Raiders — and this game will be quite telling where their seasons go from here.More is on the line for the Vikings because at 6-6 they have a more realistic chance at a playoff spot given how the NFC standings line up.Like the Raiders, they come off two losses and a bye, and the Vikings’ timing for the stretch run is especially fortuitous given wide receiver Justin Jefferson returns after missing the past seven games because of a hamstring injury.But instead of catching passes from Kirk Cousins — out since tearing an Achilles tendon on Oct. 29 — Joshua Dobbs will be behind center. Coach Kevin O’Connell decided to stick with Dobbs, who threw four interceptions Nov. 27 against Chicago. Three of those passes were deflected, however, and Dobbs did win h...

Astros and catcher Victor Caratini finalize $12 million, 2-year contract

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros and free-agent catcher Victor Caratini finalized their $12 million, two-year contract Thursday.Caratini gets a $6 million salary each of the next two seasons and can earn $500,000 each year in performance bonuses for plate appearances.A switch-hitter, the 30-year-old Caratini spent the past two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers and batted .259 with seven homers, 25 RBIs and a .711 OPS in 62 games this year as William Contreras’ backup. He committed only one error and did not have a passed ball in 58 games behind the plate. Caratini is a .236 career hitter with 38 homers and 171 RBIs in seven major league seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2017-20), San Diego (2021) and Milwaukee (2022-23). He has caught two no-hitters, the first thrown by Alec Mills for the Cubs in September 2020 and the second by Joe Musgrove with the Padres in April 2021. Caratini has also made 62 appearances at first base in his big league career, including 25 starts.Yainer Dí...