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Biden making defending democracy a touchstone in his reelection campaign – and a rejoinder to Trump

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — On the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, President Joe Biden stood in early 2022 at the literal epicenter of the insurrection and accused Donald Trump of continuing to hold a “dagger” at democracy’s throat. Biden closed out the summer that same year in the shadow of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, decrying Trumpism as a menace to democratic institutions.And that November, as voters were casting ballots in the midterm elections, Biden again sounded a clarion call to protect democratic institutions, warning that their underpinnings remained under threat. Biden on Thursday will make his fourth in a series of presidential addresses about the state of democracy, a cause that is a key motivator and a touchstone for him as he tries to remain in office even in the face of low approval ratings and widespread concern from voters about his age. The location for this speech, as was the case for the others, was deliberately chosen: It will be near Arizona State Unive...

House Republicans are set to make their case for Biden impeachment inquiry at first hearing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have insisted for months that they have the grounds to launch impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden. On Thursday, they will begin formally making their case to the public and their skeptical colleagues in the Senate.The chairmen of Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means will hold the opening hearing of their impeachment inquiry by reviewing the constitutional and legal questions surrounding their investigation of Biden and what they say are links to his son Hunter’s overseas businesses. “Based on the evidence, Congress has a duty to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden’s corruption,” Rep. James Comer, the Oversight chairman, said in a statement this week.Comer added that the committee plans to “present evidence uncovered to date and hear from legal and financial experts about crimes the Bidens may have committed as they brought in millions at the expense of U.S. interests.”It’s a high-stakes opening act for Republicans ...

TikTok says it regrets Indonesia’s decision to to ban e-commerce sales on social media platforms

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Chinese-owned app TikTok on Thursday said it regretted the Indonesian government’s decision to ban e-commerce transactions on social media platforms, particularly the impact it would have on the millions of sellers who use TikTok Shop.But TikTok Indonesia said in a statement they will respect the regulations and laws that apply in Indonesia and “will take a constructive path forward.”“We deeply regret the government’s announcement, especially how it will impact the livelihoods of the six million sellers and nearly seven million affiliate creators who use TikTok Shop,” said the statement sent to The Associated Press on Thursday.Indonesia banned goods transactions on social media platforms such as TikTok in a bid to protect small businesses from e-commerce competition, accusing them of predatory pricing. Indonesia’s Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Monday announced the decision after a meeting with President Joko Widodo. The ban ”is to prevent the domin...

Search underway for suspects who forcibly stole dog from woman in North Hollywood 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

Authorities have launched the search for two suspects after they brazenly stole a woman’s dog early Tuesday morning. Information from a Los Angeles Police Department release indicates that officers with the North Hollywood Division responded to a radio call of a robbery in the 11000 block of Burbank Boulevard just after 12:45 a.m. “The investigation revealed that a victim entered the business with her dog on a leash,” LAPD said in a release. “Shortly after, two suspects entered the business and, seemingly unprovoked, attacked the victim and used bodily force to remove the dog from her possession.” The dog has been identified as an 11-year-old Pitbull-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Drake. (LAPD)The dog has been identified as an 11-year-old Pitbull-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Drake. (LAPD)The dog has been identified as an 11-year-old Pitbull-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Drake. According to photos released by the LAPD, Drake has a zig-zag mark on his back. The suspects have bee...

Orange County woman allegedly stole over $200,000 through rental scams

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

An Orange County woman was arrested for allegedly stealing over $200,000 through home rental scams.The suspect was identified as Surong Li, 29, from Irvine, according to the Irvine Police Department.Authorities said Li told victims she was a property manager and facilitated home lease agreements with clients.In some instances, the rental properties she was representing were fraudulent or not actually available.In other cases, Li collected funds from her victims for a lease, but never transferred the money to the property owners.By using these methods, Li managed to steal over $200,000, police said. Li was arrested on multiple charges including grand theft, possession of a fake identification, and theft by false pretense.Investigators believe there may be additional victims of Li who have yet to come forward. They’ve released photos of the suspect for public identification.An Irvine woman, Surong Li, 29, was arrested after she allegedly stole over $200,000 from victims through realty...

Billy from 'Saw X' creeps into KTLA live report 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

A normal live shot on the KTLA 5 News was interrupted by a creepy guest on Friday.Billy the Puppet from the “Saw” movie series, who is known for his frightening rhetoric of riding on a tricycle and asking victims if they “want to play a game,” rode his classic trike behind KTLA 5's Kimberly Cheng as she reported on concerns over new UCLA dormitory sizes.Billy the Puppet from the "Saw" horror film franchise creeps into KTLA's Kimberly Cheng'slive shot in Westwood on Sept. 22, 2023. (KTLA)This is not the first time Billy has made a public appearance promoting the new installment in the “Saw” franchise; he has “hacked” several social media pages poking fun at moviegoers’ insatiable demand for new content, and the film series has just released a new advertisement that takes inspiration from a 2021 AMC Theaters ad featuring Nicole Kidman. “Saw X” hits theaters on Sept. 29.  

San Jose Sharks defenseman injured in preseason loss to Anaheim Ducks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

The San Jose Sharks scored first before they allowed four unanswered goals and had a veteran defenseman leave the game due to injury in a 4-2 preseason loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday at Honda Center.Forward Justin Bailey, in Sharks camp on a professional tryout, scored a power-play goal at the 9:36 mark of the first period as he collected a rebound in front of the Anaheim net and beat Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal. But Anaheim responded with even-strength goals by Pavel Mintyukov, Chase De Leo, and Brett Leason, with Leason’s goal at the 8:16 mark of the second period giving Anaheim a 3-1 lead.Brock McGinn then scored for Anaheim just 23 seconds into the third period, as Sharks goalie Georgi Romanov allowed four goals on the first 19 shots he faced.Nathan Todd scored for the Sharks with 13:35 left in regulation time for San Jose (1-2-0), which also lost 4-2 to the Ducks on Tuesday at SAP Center.Sharks defenseman Radim Simek was hurt with just under four minutes left in the first...

SF Giants give Padres first extra-inning win of 2023, must sweep Dodgers to avoid losing record

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The only thing separating the Giants and Padres for much of this season, at least until the clubs began moving in opposite directions this month, was their success, or lack thereof, in close games and extra innings.Luck plays a large role in these types of games, and finally in Game 159, it was on the Padres’ side.Winless in its first 12 extra-inning contests of the year, San Diego was given a gift to start the 10th inning, with the speedy Trent Grisham placed at second as the automatic runner. Grisham used that speed to advance to third on a ground ball to short, then raced home on a fly ball to Mike Yastrzemski in right field.A bloop off the end of the bat of Manny Machado fell in front of Austin Slater, scoring two more against John Brebbia, and that was that.With a 5-2 loss, the Giants fell to 11-5 in extra innings and San Diego improved to 1-12. San Francisco must now sweep the Dodgers this weekend to avoid finishing the season with a losing record. They w...

Powerball ticket worth nearly $800K sold in San Jose

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- The Powerball Jackpot for Wednesday night's drawing was set at $850 million, and while nobody in California matched the five winning numbers with the Powerball number, a player in San Jose still won big money. At a Quick Stop located at 5 Stewart Ave, one player drew the five winning numbers, but not the Powerball number. That ticket is worth $796,425, according to the California Lottery website. ‘No turn on red’ signs could be going up all over San Francisco No other lottery players in California drew all five numbers. Five people matched four winning numbers with the Powerball numbers. Those tickets are worth $23,318.The winning numbers are 47, 63, 1, 46, and 7, with a Powerball number of 7. The $850 million jackpot is the second-largest jackpot of the year. In July, a California lottery player hit a $1.08 billion jackpot.

Town hall to be held on Oakland's search for police chief

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:07 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – The search continues for a new police chief in Oakland. On Thursday, the community will get their chance to weigh in, as many people are calling for former police chief LeRonne Armstrong to be reinstated.The police commission is holding a town hall, and the commission chair says that the meeting will happen even if the full commission does not show up.Shortly after taking office earlier this year, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao fired Armstrong following an investigation by a law firm hired by a federal monitor overseeing the Oakland Police Department, which found that Armstrong failed to discipline an officer for misconduct. An appeals court arbitrator would later clear Armstrong of any wrongdoing.  Oakland mayor ‘frustrated’ over efforts to find new police chief The former general counsel of the Oakland NAACP, Robert Harris, makes the case for being in favor of the police commission including Armstrong at the top of the list of candidates for his old job. ...